IDFC FIRST Bank announced the launch of India’s first Centre for Trauma Studies and Innovation (CTSI), in association with the Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM). The initiative, launched on World Mental Health Day, aims to address the need to look at mental health from a trauma lens, besides also creating awareness about mental wellbeing. Through this initiative, the Centre for Trauma will create curriculums and facilitate trauma-related courses for healthcare professionals at both urban and grassroots levels.

The Centre for Trauma Studies will promote credible courses that study key areas of trauma care and deliver effective, accessible and affordable healthcare services for all. The Centre will be open to healthcare professionals from various fields. The focus is on building capacity at a grassroots level. IDFC FIRST Bank and BALM have been building awareness about mental health through social media campaigns, newsletters and published articles.

Rachana Iyer, Head – Corporate Social Responsibility, IDFC FIRST Bank, said, “Trauma care systems in India are at a nascent stage and constrained by lack and financial and infrastructure support. At IDFC FIRST Bank, we are on a mission to bridge these gaps so that the underserved and excluded have better access to mental healthcare. The launch of the Centre for Trauma strengthens our efforts by adding enhancing awareness about the element trauma care in mental health.”

IDFC FIRST Bank and BALM have been partners since 2016 and have strongly supported the capacity building of human resources in mental health through their fellowship program. Another unique initiative that this partnership has provided is the GoTN - Grief and bereavement counselling helpline program in partnership with the National Health Mission, Government of Tamil Nadu. The helpline service that was launched in May 2021, has already onboarded 80 volunteers who have made more than 5,000 calls.