Institute of Mental Health (Belgrade)

Institute of Mental Health
Shown in Belgrade
Geography
Location Palmotićeva 37, Belgrade, Serbia
Coordinates 44°44′36″N 20°24′00″E / 44.743333°N 20.4°ECoordinates: 44°44′36″N 20°24′00″E / 44.743333°N 20.4°E
Organisation
Funding Public hospital
Hospital type Specialist
Affiliated university University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade School of Medicine, University of Belgrade Faculty of Defectology, University of Belgrade Faculty of Pharmacy and a Higher Medical School, Belgrade
Patron None
Services
Beds ~ 100
Speciality Mental health psychology, neurology, psychiatry
History
Founded 1963
Links
Website www.imh.org.rs
Other links Institute of Mental Health

The Institute of Mental Health in Belgrade (Serbian: Институт за ментално здравље, Institut za mentalno zdravlje), established in 1963, is the first social-psychiatric institution in Southeast Europe.[1] It is a tertiary care institution that specializes in the fields of psychiatry, addiction diseases, clinical psychology, epileptic medicine, clinical neurophysiology, psycho-pharmacology, psycho-therapy and mental illness. Treatment is based on the concepts of social psychiatry with the goal of rehabilitation and re-socialization of patients.[1] The Institute serves as a teaching facility for the Belgrade Medical School and several other schools in Belgrade.

On November 18, 2009, the Institute of Mental Health received a nomination to be inducted into the WHO Collaborative Centre for Mental Health Care by Serbian Minister of Health, Tomica Milosavljević.[2] This nomination was approved by WHO.[2][3][4] Belgrade's Institute of Mental Health also publishes pertinent articles on behalf of the World Health Organization.[5]

The Director of Institute is Sc.D. Dušica Lečić Toševski. The Assistant Director is Doctor Smiljka Popović Deušić.[6]

History

Major developments in the field of psychiatry, which occurred due to the rapid development of psycho-pharmacological-therapy, opened the possibility of a specialized hospital. The Institute of Mental Health in Belgrade was founded by Sc.D. Slavka Morić-Petrović in cooperation with Sc.D. Dušan Petrović, Sc.D. Milan Popović, Sc.D. Miroslav Antonijević, Sc.D. Predrag Kaličanin and several other psychiatrists.[1] Architectural design was done by Vladeta Stojaković. Following building approval, the Institute's cornerstone was placed on June 5, 1960. The Institute of Mental Health was officially opened on April 14, 1963,[1] in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The Institute of Mental Health in Belgrade initially provided services for the prevention and treatment of psychiatric diseases and monitoring of out-patients.[1] On December 26, 2007, in the presence of the Serbian Minister of Health - Tomica Milosavljević, a day hospital was opened for adolescents.[7]

Organizational units

The Institute of Mental Health includes eight departments:

Activity of the Institute

Today, The Institute of Mental Health in Belgrade's activity is defined by its statute, which is in compliance with the law on health care in Serbia.[8]

For the convenience of the population of Belgrade, the Institute also provides secondary health care services in addition to mental health services.

IMH Belgrade also has an educational and scientific research program.[8] The research department started an international project that uses research into genetic copy variations that are used in determining potential risks for mental illness.[9]

In performing a health practice IMH Belgrade provides preventative, diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitation services from the following fields:

  • psycho-therapy
  • clinical psychology
  • medical biochemistry
  • medical supply, and
  • clinical pharmacology

Endeavours of The Institute of Mental Health in Belgrade also include the education of professionals involved in the care of patients.[10] They include psychiatrists, GPs, psychologists, pedagogues, special teachers, social workers, lawyers and medical technicians.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "O nama". Institut za mentalno zdravlje. RocketTheme. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 News from the Serbian Government site
  3. "WHO Collaborative Centers". WHO. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  4. PhD S. Lakićević Informant of the Institute – page 7 (file doc); last time updated: 15 April 2010 and also HTML version, from Google cache
  5. Lečić-Toševski, Dušica (2000). "Mental and Behavioural Disorders Preventing Suicide: a resource for media professionals". World Health Organization (in Serbian). Geneva: Department of Mental Health Social Change and Mental Health. pp. 1–10. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  6. IMH website in English
  7. IMH web site; section: "Opening ceremony of Daily Hospital for children and adolescents"
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lakićević Informant of the Institute – page 3 (file doc); last time updated: 15 April 2010 and also HTML version, from Google cache
  9. IMH web page; section: "Press Release, 16 February 2010"
  10. 10.0 10.1 PhD S. Lakićević Informant of the Institute – page 4 (file doc); last time updated: 15 April 2010 and also HTML version, from Google cache

External links