Delivering a panel session (2024)
Delivering a panel session (2024)

As the officer in charge, I have dedicated my career to the psychological assessment and training of postgraduate students in Psychiatry and other specialized fields. My responsibilities have extended to supervising advanced course trainees in psychiatry, focusing on psychological assessments and psychotherapeutic interventions. I take pride in my role as a member of the interview board for MBBS admissions at AFMC, where I have contributed to developing mental health tools and modules for psychotherapeutic interventions.

My role as Principal Investigator in the DRDO-based Indo-UK Research Project titled “Gender Integration and Resilience Building for Optimizing Military Performance” has been a highlight of my career. This project allowed me to explore and provide evidence for strategies that enhance psychological well-being, marking a significant contribution to the field.

I have also been instrumental in the development and standardization of a Psychological Assessment Inventory for MBBS Admissions. Moreover, I spearheaded the development of MANAS (“Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System”), which was endorsed as a National Program by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). MANAS is designed to provide positive mental health interventions for individuals aged 15 to 35 and has been a project under the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. This app, featuring modules on good sleep, mindfulness, and social connectedness, is a testament to my commitment to enhancing mental health, and it is available for download from the Google Play Store.

My expertise led to my engagement as an expert in the EG-3 Subgroup II Thematic Group for Behavioral Health Training Content. In this capacity, I developed modules on grief counseling and the mental health of children during the COVID-19 pandemic for the iGOT HRH Cell Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan. This role was part of a thematic group from AYUSH/Allied and Healthcare Science, tasked with developing the desired training content.

Throughout my career, I have held prestigious positions such as the Immediate Past President of the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists from 2019 to February 2021 and President Elect of the Association of Industrial Psychiatry of India. My collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to provide information and guidelines on managing distress during the pandemic from 2019 to 2021 has been especially fulfilling. Additionally, I am a member of the Expert Committee in the Rehabilitation Council of India and served as the Chairperson of the Scientific Committee for ANCEMP 2022 held at AFMC.

My commitment to education and advocacy is evident in my lectures on gender sensitization and my role as an invited speaker at over 120 scientific forums. With more than 167 publications in various indexed national and international journals of repute, I have significantly contributed to the advancement of clinical psychology. My editorial roles include serving as Co-Editor of the “Handbook of Counseling in HIV,” editions of the “Handbook of Undergraduate Psychiatry,” and the “Handbook of Basic Psychiatry.” Additionally, I have been the Editor-in-Chief of the PubMed-indexed Journal of Industrial Psychiatry from 2001 to December 2020, a role that has allowed me to influence and shape the field significantly.