Bhojpur: Members of the IAS Officers’ Wives Association (IASOWA) visited the Bihar State Institute of Mental Health and Allied Sciences (BIMHAS) in Koilwar, Bhojpur, on Sunday, distributing warm clothing and games to patients and urging greater sensitivity towards mental health.
The delegation was led by Dr Ratna Amrit, chair of IASOWA’s executive committee, accompanied by secretary Jasmine Chaudhary and joint secretary Manjari Singh. They were briefed by the institute’s director, Dr Jayesh Ranjan, who outlined the transformation of BIMHAS from its previous site to its current campus and highlighted recent upgrades carried out by the state health department.
During their visit, members toured the wards, observed rehabilitation and therapeutic activities, and met patients. As part of their outreach, they handed out blankets, woollens and board games, which Dr Amrit described as a “small gesture of affection”.
Speaking afterwards, Dr Amrit welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with a major mental health facility in Bihar. She praised the institute’s staff and said the visit underscored the need to dismantle stigma and “connect with patients with empathy and humanity”.
She added that the outreach had “opened a new path” for the association and hoped it would help raise awareness of mental health issues within the wider community.
IASOWA said the visit was part of its wider effort to promote compassion, reduce stigma and encourage more inclusive attitudes towards mental health.
