NIMHANS provides services of research, evaluation, training, consultation and guidance related to mental health and neuroscience activities.

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences(NIMHANS) is a multidisciplinary Institute for patient care and academic pursuit in the frontier area of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. The Lunatic Asylum which came into being in the latter part of the 19th Century was renamed as Mental Hospital in 1925 by the erstwhile Government of Mysore. This hospital and All India Institute of Mental Health established in 1954 by Government of India were amalgamated on 27th December 1974, and thus was formed the autonomous National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS). The priority gradient adopted at the Institute is service, manpower development and research. Multidisciplinary integrated approach is the mainstay of this institute, paving the way to translate the results from the bench to the bedside. On November 14, 1994, NIMHANS has been declared a Deemed University by the University Grants Commission, with academic autonomy. The Institute functions under the direction of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka. Several National and International funding organizations provide resources for research.

The special feature of NIMHANS is its multidisciplinary approach in patient care, training programmes and also in the promotive, preventive and curative aspects of clinical services in the area of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. The manpower development programmes at the Institute reflect the extent to which we have succeeded in bringing together and nurturing behavioural sciences, neurosciences, basic biological sciences and ancient health systems in Mental Health and Neurosciences.

The broad objectives of NIMHANS are:

To promote, through academic and professional endeavours, growth and development of mental health, neurosciences and allied subjects in tune with the global trends and developments in these fields.

To develop the Institute into an advanced centre for service, training and research in the broad area of mental health and neurosciences.

To study the molecular, neurophysiological, psychosocial and transcendental aspects of the brain-mind-behaviour axis and to evolve suitable techniques for alleviation of mental and neural problems.

To provide and assist in providing services of research, evaluation, training, consultation and guidance related to mental health and neuroscience activities.

To undertake communication of health information through print and electronic media viz., journals, research papers, proceedings of conferences, symposia, text books, manuals and hand outs.

To augment and maintain library and information services in furtherance of the object of the society.

To co-operate with international and national agencies engaged in research and training or clinical practice in the area of mental health and neurosciences and to arrange for interchange of personnel, material and data.