The Indian Association for Geriatric Mental Health (IAGMH) is a national body committed to promoting the mental health, psychiatric care, and well-being of older adults in India. Recognizing the unique emotional, psychological, and social challenges faced by the ageing population and their families, the Association brings together psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, caregivers, and allied professionals. Our work spans research, training, advocacy, and policy engagement to strengthen geriatric mental health services across the country. We also strive to build awareness, reduce stigma, and support families in providing compassionate care to elders. Through collaboration and innovation, IAGMH aims to ensure dignity, resilience, and quality of life in later years.
The elder in India are soon going to outnumber the 0-14 population by 2050, with a projected estimate of 36% of the population share. There is a commendable stride in societal change and health care facilities in the sub-continent, which has given rise to this exponential increase in the ageing demographic.
However, a longer life need not necessarily indicate a healthier life. Older individuals face a lot of problems as they age, with regards to basic and advanced health care needs, locomotor issues, access to healthcare(especially for those who stay in rural areas), access to medications, loneliness, financial dependency and at times even abuse and neglect, to name a few.
Realizing that the world of an elder individual, and often the treatment of such an individual, calls for a multi-disciplinary team and cannot follow a simplistic medical model of curative principles lone; the Indian Association for Geriatric Mental Health was borne to foster and care for the needs of elder individuals in India, in 2004, led by our Founder President Dr. S.C. Tiwari.
As an association, we endeavour to promote elder well-being and care, through advocacy, awareness as well as updated scientific discussion, usually through our two conferences- the Mid-Term CME held in April/May and the annual conference- GERON, held in September annually. There are numerous awards for research, in junior and senior categories, and a prestigious oration, awarded to a senior member of the organization in recognition for yeoman service rendered in geriatric psychiatry. Further, we attempt to liaison and network with other NGO’s and governmental offices, to impress upon policy makers, the felt needs for this vulnerable population. We have also carried out multi-centric studies under the aegis of the IAGMH, which have received critical peer acclaim, as well.
I would thus urge all psychiatrists, to become members and join hands with us, as managing elder patients will soon be a norm, rather than an exception, and upskilling can be easily achieved here.
With regards,
Dr. Alka A Subramanyam
“It is with great pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to all visitors, members, and stakeholders of our community. Our association is dedicated to promoting the mental health and well-being of older adults, recognizing the unique challenges they face as they age.”
Dr. P. T. Shiva Kumar
