Bridging Classroom Learning with Clinical Practice: Psychology Students’ Visit to IMHANS Srinagar
An educational visit to the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), Srinagar was organised by Ms. Bisma Shah, Psychology teacher, for Class XII Psychology students, accompanied by Ms. Zainab, School Counsellor. The visit aimed to connect classroom learning with real-life mental health practice and services.
The orientation began with Ms. Jousiya, Counselling Psychologist and addiction-treatment specialist, who introduced the institute’s departments and the patient-care process, including registration at the Medical Records Department and access to the pharmacy. Students toured the Outpatient Department and Emergency Ward to learn how patients are assessed and managed at different levels of care.
Ms. Jousiya shared professional insights and emphasised the rising incidence of substance use among adolescents. Students also learned about skill-development programmes that support rehabilitation and social reintegration.
Students observed various wards, the nursing station, and an in‑patient report file to understand clinical documentation. They had a meaningful, supervised interaction with a patient experiencing psychosis, which helped them appreciate empathy, appropriate communication, professional boundaries, and patient‑centred care.
The group visited diagnostic and treatment units including the MRI lab, Brain Stimulation Centre (ECT) and ECG lab, learning how mental health care collaborates with neurological and medical services. They also observed higher‑supervision areas (refractory wards/PICU), noting diverse patient behaviours and the need for dignity and sensitivity in care.
The visit concluded with a tour of the counselling rooms, TELEMANAS centre, and the Psychology Laboratory, where students were introduced to psychological tests and the roles of counsellors. Ms. Jousiya’s clear explanations and patient engagement made the orientation informative, practical, and closely tied to the Psychology curriculum.
