Beyond psychiatry: re-imagining the future mental health ecosystem
Mittal, Shweta Sabherwal, Shubham Basu, Debasish
Mittal, Shweta
Sabherwal, Shubham
Basu, Debasish
Abstract
Psychiatry has traditionally focused on diagnosis, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy. However, rapid advances in technology, shifting societal needs, and changing healthcare economics are expanding mental health far beyond conventional psychiatric practice.
Aims: This session aims to explore how psychiatry can evolve as the scientific and ethical backbone of a rapidly emerging, multidimensional mental health industry.
Methods/Approach: Drawing from clinical psychiatry, digital mental health, neuromodulation, immersive therapies, community psychiatry, and global (India –UK) healthcare perspectives, this session integrates evidence, lived clinical experience, and system-level insights.
Discussion: Key themes include the rise of AI-assisted care, home-based neuromodulation (tDCS, vagal nerve stimulation), VR-assisted interventions, patient-led education models, creative arts as mental health entry points, and the formalisation of informal mental-health workforces. The session also addresses critical but under-discussed issues such as insurance coverage for inpatient psychiatry and the urgent need for clinician-led healthcare administration.
Conclusion: Psychiatrists must transition from being passive service providers to active system architects, innovators, and ethical leaders. This session invites participants to rethink psychiatry’s role in shaping the future mental health ecosystem.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Understand emerging trends shaping the future mental health industry beyond traditional psychiatry.
2. Recognise the clinical and ethical implications of digital therapeutics, neuromodulation, and immersive interventions.
3. Appreciate the role of psychiatrists in leadership, administration, and policy-making.
4. Identify opportunities for community engagement, patient empowerment, and stigma reduction in mental healthcare.
MIDER Authors
Affiliations
Citations
Altmetric:
Date
2026-01
Type
Conference Output
Citation
Mittal Sh, Sabherwal S, Basu D. Beyond psychiatry: re-imagining the future mental health ecosystem. In: Sarkhel, S, editor. Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 77th Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, ANCIPS 2026; 2026 January 28-31; New Delhi, India: Indian Psychiatric Society; 2026. p.S162.