
Dr Nimesh Desai is the former director of Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), New Delhi, India. Through his glorious career of over 4 decades, he has worked in NIMHANS, AIIMS and BJ Medical, Ahmedabad, all premier Psychiatry institutes in India. In this fascinating conversation, he reveals how he and his team built a mental health service which serves over 1200 patients in community services and 300 inpatient beds EVERY DAY. He also talks about homelessness for the mentally unwell and the Mental Health Care Act of India. Sit back, make yourself a kadak chai and watch as Dr Desai takes us on a journey of over 4 decades like only he in his masterful oration can. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Impactful Encounter 01:40 Journey in Psychiatry 02:47 Training and Influential Psychiatrists 05:14 Specialization and Work at NIMHANS and AIIMS 07:12 Differences between General Hospital and Psychiatry Institute 08:37 Joining IHBAS and Challenges Faced 09:04 Role in IHBAS and Fulfillment 12:57 Reforming Mental Health Institutions 17:41 Multi-Stakeholder Reality and Mental Health Care Act 23:16 Role of Spirituality in Mental Health Organizations 26:10 Over-Psychiatrization and Preventative Needs 29:46 Challenges with Mental Health Care Act 36:12 Cultural Contextualization of Human Rights 43:16 Psychiatrization and Phenomenology 48:03 Broad Interests in Psychiatry and Mental Health 49:23 Importance of Popular Culture in Psychiatry 50:18 Universal Models of Mind and Mental Health 51:12 The Treatment Gap in Mental Health Care 52:22 Sociological, Technological, and Economic Development and Mental Health 53:23 The Role of Spirituality in Mental Health 54:22 The Impact of Socioeconomic Changes on Mental Health 55:15 The Dilemma of a Welfare State 56:00 Empowering Individuals with Disabilities 56:44 Negative Utopias and the Future of the Human Race 57:41 The Resilience of the Human Race 58:34 The Role of AI in Mental Health Care 01:02:02 The Future of Mental Health Professions 01:13:15 Self-Care and Care for Mental Health Professionals