History
History of TN IPS
The Indian Psychiatric Society, the national organization of psychiatrists in India, was founded on 7th January 1947 during the Indian Science Congress meeting held in New Delhi with 15 of its founder members. The first national conference of the Society and AGBM was held at Patna on 2nd January 1948 with Dr N N De as President. The society was registered after forming the constitution and Bylaws in Dec 1948 making IPS, the 4th oldest professional organization of the nation.
The first issue of the Indian Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry published in 1949 but was stopped in 1954 due to lack of funds and manpower. However, the journal got its redemption in 1958 under the President ship of Dr I K Mujawar, as Indian Journal of Psychiatry and has grown into a reputed journal over the years.
The IPS currently represents the largest society of mental health professionals in India & works on health advocacy, social activism, policy formulation & medical research in the field of mental health. It has now grown to a membership of above 7000 specialists.
The seed for forming a state level branch originated in 1984 when Dr Abdul Jabbar from Salem organized TN Psychiatrists meet at Salem with Dr Sarada Menon as Chief Guest. Like a conference, he also organized paper presentation in that meet. The senior psychiatrists who attended felt the need to form a state level branch of the national body.
Indian Psychiatric Society Tamil Nadu Chapter was founded in the year 1986 in the presence of Prof O Somasundaram and Dr Vaidyalingam with six of its founder members including Dr V Ramachandran, Chennai, Dr Abdul Jabbar, Salem, Dr T N Jayaraman, Coimbatore, Dr V Palaniappun, Chennai, Dr Mathrubootham, Chennai and Dr S Nambi, Chennai. Dr TN Jayaraman organized the first ever official conference in Agricultural college, Coimbatore.
25 Psychiatrists immediately became members by paying the membership fee, constitution and bylaws were formed in that meet. Since its formation, major membership drive done in the annual conference held in Chennai in 1990 with Prof Peter Fernandez as the organizing Chairman and Organizing Secretary Dr S Nambi. All practicing psychiatrists except two attended and first ever membership directory and Souvenir was released in that conference.
IPS TN Chapter has been registered with the Registrar of Societies in the year 2016. The IPS TN Chapter has apart from organizing annual state conference, started organizing mid-term CME focusing on practitioners needs from year 2006 and PG Training Program from 2022.
Research subcommittee of TN IPS has been organizing statewide Journal club since the year 2021 to inculcate research interest among postgraduates.
Tamil Nadu had active representation in the national body with Dr T George as the Hon. General Secretary in 1960’s. Prof O Somasundaram became the President of IPS in 1983. After the formation for TN Chapter, Dr V Ramachandran, Dr V Palaniappun, Dr R Ponnudurai, Dr S Nambi, Dr M Thirunaaukarasu and Dr T V Asokan have become national president from the state of Tamil Nadu.
The membership has steadily increased over the years and currently more than 600 members are part of the TN state branch. IPS TN Chapter conduct regular awareness programs and camps as part of the world mental health week celebration every year. During critical times like Tsunami and more recently COVID-19, IPS TN Chapter extended help addressing the psychological needs in the form of camps and telephone counselling. Also, in liaison with specialities like Geriatric Medicine, IPS TN Chapter has organized Geropsychiatric conference for the benefit of practitioners and post graduates.
Indian Journal of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IJMHNS), official publication of IPS TN Chapter was launched in year 2018. The Editorial team is actively working on obtaining Indexation.
Recent NMC guidelines on seeking sponsorship of events/sponsors for doctors and concerns raised by some members about the objectives of the academic events whether they really serve the purpose as the academic focus was overridden by the social/holiday activities.
Hence to get things into balance, organizing team lead by Dr Sudhakar from Chengalpattu volunteered to bring a change.
Some unique and novel arrangements of the state conference TANPSYCON 2023 were,
1. Entirely non-Pharma funded event
2. Plenty of academic sessions, something for everyone and
3. Exclusive UG sessions to promote psychiatry among undergraduates
With increase in number of PG seats in Psychiatry over the recent years approximately 150 per year, job opportunities, establishing and surviving clinical practice also becomes a challenge.
There are lot of uncertainties/challenges being anticipated not just for the speciality but also for the practitioners.
Training: Changes by NMC in UG curriculum like CBME/exam pattern like NEXT, required competencies for PG’s, implementation of District Residency Programs
Teaching: Lesson plan, SLO’s, Workplace based assessments, Self-directed learning, Problem based learning, AETCOM, BCBR
Practice: MHCA 2017 implementation, complying with CEA, infringement from other specialities like Neurology and Paediatrics, competing with AYUSH, dealing with Quacks Pressure in the Govt setting like Insurance schemes, unscheduled activities, pressure from bureaucrats/NGO’s. In Private, meeting the NMC requirements, NAAC, NABH and other accreditation agencies.
How do we update, learn, share and solve these difficulties? We all know grievances are better heard when it gets louder from group of people rather than from an individual. So here comes the importance of society. Let us stay united, be alert, fight for our needs and help each other. I request all the members to show solidarity, share your concerns, actively take part in discussion and strengthen the society’s activities. Society is not separate entity but reflection of the attitude of its members.
Long Live IPS!
Dr Siva Ilango T
Hon. General Secretary
TN IPS