Institute of Mental Health & Hospital, Agra

The Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra, then known as Agra Lunatic Asylum, was established in September 1859 governed by the State of Uttar Pradesh.

It is spread over on extensive and beautiful ground of 172.8 acres land and is well known center for the treatment, training and research on mental disorders in Northern India.
The institute was renamed as Mental Hospital, Agra in 1925. It was being managed under the provisions of Indian Lunacy Act, 1912 till 1993. Presently all admissions and discharges are being done under the provisions of Mental Health Act, 1987.

Following a public writ, Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the Year 1994, renamed the Institution as Agra Mansik Arogyashala, made it an autonomous institution and outlined the objectives to improve treatment and care of mentally ill persons including   rehabilitation as well as to develop activities for professional teaching, training and research.

In compliance of the order of Hon’ble Supreme Court, the U.P.Govt. declared Mental Hospital, Agra as an autonomous institution on 31.01.1995. In view of the objectives laid down by the Hon’ble Court, it was renamed as Institute of Mental Health and Hospital on Feb., 8, 2001.

Lunatic asylums were established by the British in Indian based on the fact that the care of the insane was the responsibility of the Crown. The first asylum was established in 1745 in Bombay , followed by Calcutta in 1784 . There were a few asylums until 1857, which mostly existed in the major cities of Calcutta, Bombay ,and Madras. The growth of lunatic asylums was facilitated by the enactment of the Indian Lunatic Asylum Act, 1858. The Act set up guidelines for the establishment of lunatic asylums as well as the procedures for the admission of lunatics. The Agra Asylum came into existence in 1859. The Agra Asylums was transformed into Mental Hospital, Agar in 1925.

The Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra has been nominated Centre of Excellence for Manpower Development in Psychiatry and Allied Sciences during 11th Five Year Plan by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi under National Mental Health Programme in the year 2009.