The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM) is a non-profit organization
that engages in research, training, capacity building and academics in mental health. BALM is a sister organization of The Banyan, a non-profit organization working with persons with mental health issues affected by homelessness and poverty since 1993 in Chennai. The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health
(BALM) was conceived in 2007 to consolidate findings from the work of The Banyan, set benchmarks for mental health care, build human resource capabilities across multiple cadres, and use emerging evidence as a tool to impact policy and drive change. Thus BALM’s mandate includes:
- Human resource capabilities development:
To train students in mental health and development practice through education in the social sciences, such that they are equipped with skills and leadership capabilities to catalyse social inclusion.
- Systematic documentation and dissemination of information:
To document qualitative and quantitative information on existing programmes , persistent challenges and successes in service provision etc.
- Initiating or Scaling up services:
Based on principles articulated in the Indian Mental
Health Policy (integrated, collaborative and
evidence based care, equity, quality, participatory and rights based services, and strong value frameworks), BALM seeks to collaborate with Governments and civil society organisations (CSOs) to initiate and scale up mental health and social care services for homeless and poor persons.
- Build awareness and enthuse public demand and social action:
Stimulate and nurture user caregiver movements and community vigil systems such that positive mindsets are created. BALM offers four post graduate master programs from its campus at Thiruvidanthai (close to Kovalam), on the East Coast Road in Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu. The campus is shared with a clustered group home for women with long term mental health needs run by the Banyan. The campus has its own library, a café, an auditorium besides spacious class rooms. It is a frequent site for academic events including talks by experts from India and broad overseas. BALM offers 4 MA programmes:
- MA Social Work in Mental Health
- MA Applied Psychology (with specialisation in Counselling Psychology)
- MA Applied Psychology (with specialisation in Clinical Psychology)
- MA Research, Management and Entrepreneurship in Health (in collaboration with VU University)
All degrees are awarded by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
