Mysuru: Mysore Open Forum (MOF) has organised a talk on ‘Positive Health – How to be physically and mentally fit’ by Dr. C.R. Chandrashekar, a People’s Psychiatrist, at 10.30 am on Sunday (June 28) at Kalpa Kshetra Auditorium, 581/1, Vijayanagar 4th Stage, 1st Phase, Mysuru. The talk is open to all. [Mob: 94498-19536]. 

Dr. Chandrashekar, who is also is an academic and a mental health advocate, has served as a professor and Deputy Medical Superintendent at NIMHANS, Bengaluru. 

Known for his contributions to community psychiatry and public mental health in India, he has worked in general psychiatry, forensic psychiatry and community psychiatry. 

He played a key role in formulating and implementing the National Mental Health Programme in 1982 and developed the Bellary model of District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), which is now implemented in over 400 districts across India. 

An advocate for mental health awareness across Karnataka,  he established SAMADHANA Centre in 2007, providing free consultations to over 30,000 patients. Since 1980, he has also worked at Prasanna Counselling Centre, where over one lakh persons have received care. 

He has donated his personal assets and property to NIMHANS. His lifelong dedication to mental health care, training and outreach continues to influence public psychiatry in India. He has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed articles in national and international journals and has contributed extensively to public awareness through books and articles in Kannada and English 

Awards: Dr. Chandrashekar received the Padma Shri in 2024 for his contributions to Medicine; Rajyotsava Award – Government of Karnataka; Kempegowda Award – Bruhat Bengaluru MahanagaraPalike (BBMP); National Award for Popularising Science – Government of India and UGC; Eminent Psychiatrist Award – Indian Psychiatric Society (Karnataka and South Zone; Lifetime Achievement Awards – Karnataka State Science and Technology Academy and Kannada Vaidya Vijnana Parishat.