The Magic of Young Enthusiastic Doctors!!
As a postgraduate teacher, we naturally spend more time in psychiatry training of postgraduates in most medical colleges where both postgraduates and undergraduate medical students are enrolled.
Recently, I took a session for first-year MBBS students during the Foundation Programme and introduced them to our Psychiatry Club (MINDS Sapiens), Book Club (JSS DIAL), Campus Nature Club, MINDS Newsletter and our free value-added course on “Trained Volunteer for Psychiatric Services”.
From 250 students, we had numerous students enrolled to one or another club. Once they are in their respective group, we post relevant information for that group. We also posted about an upcoming undergraduate research opportunity; incidentally, one of the research calls was due for 15 November 2025. Interestingly, two first-year students were up for research, which baffled me was as they did groundwork, prepared and got an ethical certificate within a few days to submit for the opportunity!! The Magic of Young Enthusiastic Doctors is truly inspiring.
Dr. M Kishor
Professor and Head,
Department of Psychiatry
JSS Medical College, JSSAHER
Mysuru
MINDS Sapiens (Psychiatry Club) – A closer look inside the psychiatry club of JSS Medical College, Mysuru.
What began as a small student-led initiative, under the guidance of Dr. M Kishor (HOD), has now evolved into one of the most impactful student organisations at the institute. The club, founded by a handful of passionate MBBS students just two years ago, has steadily grown into a core pillar of student engagement and mental health advocacy within the institution. Today, MINDS Sapiens stands strong with a structured leadership comprising 13 core members, including a President, Vice President, two General Secretaries, and Batch Representatives, and an active base of nearly 450 student members. The club aims to break stigma, promote mental well-being, and empower medical students with important psychiatric skills.
The journey of the club began with community outreach. In its early days, the club organised multiple orphanage drives, collecting and donating clothes and essential supplies to various orphanages, fostering a spirit of social responsibility. Over time, it expanded its focus to academic and preventive mental health initiatives. Among its most notable contributions was the Suicide Prevention Workshop organised on World Suicide Prevention Day in the year 2024. This workshop trained medical students in suicide risk assessment using tools such as the SAFL App, aligning closely with the National Medical Commission’s vision of making suicide risk assessment a core medical competency. In addition to suicide prevention, the club has conducted several interactive workshops and campaigns, including sessions on coping with exam anxiety, stress management, and mental issues relevant to medical students.
The club successfully organised two TEDx events. The theme for TEDx 2024, “The Ripple Effect”, highlighted how small actions can create significant change in mental health awareness. And the theme for TEDx 2025, “The Edge of Certainty”, explored the nuances of doubt, decision-making, and psychological complexity.
The club organises events every 2 – 3 months. It is active on social media as well, where it hosts regular interactive sessions aimed at promoting mental health awareness among both students and the general population. With student involvement and regular academic and outreach activities, it continues to have meaningful outreach and honest conversations around mental health; to shape not just future psychiatrists, but more empathetic doctors within the college.
The steady rise of MINDS Sapiens reflects the passion of its people. From the early efforts of its founding members – Akuti Khanna, Sharanya Bose, Aditya Rao, Samriddhi Ghosh, Samriddhi Ghosh, and Sheryl Agarwal, to the commitment of its present committee led by President Sana Singh, Vice President Raghavi Jain, and General Secretaries Rachita Jaisuka and Stuti Jajotia, each has shaped the club’s identity. With nearly 450 members, the club has grown into a vibrant community that keeps mental health advocacy active and authentic across the campus.
Compiled by
Dr. Mishika Jain
Junior Resident
Department of Psychiatry
MGM Medical College, Indore
