The Richmond Fellowship Society (India)
Dept. of Psychiatry, NIMHANS
The Richmond Fellowship Society (India)
Dept. of Psychiatry, NIMHANS
In collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bengaluru — two and a half days of science, dialogue, and celebration of four decades of mental health rehabilitation.
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Theme: Rehab to Recovery – 40 years of RFS (India)
Since 1986, The Richmond Fellowship Society (India) has been at the forefront of providing quality rehabilitation services – helping individuals regain self-confidence and improve their quality of life.
RFS(I) Four branches are located at Bengaluru, Delhi, Lucknow and Sidlaghatta.
Book Your Spot →Conference Highlights
National and international experts sharing knowledge on psychosocial rehabilitation, recovery, and community mental health.
High-level dialogues on mental health legislation, rights-based frameworks, and the role of media.
Hands-on sessions for mental health professionals, NGOs, students, family members, and individuals with lived experience.
A landmark celebration honouring four decades of RFS India — with cultural performances.
Click here for details.
A unique platform for professionals, families, carers, and persons with lived experience — mutual learning and exchange.
Why Attend
Eminent psychiatrists, rehabilitation specialists, and recovery coaches from India and across the globe.
Bringing together academic expertise, clinical insight, and shared commitment to mental health rehabilitation.
Connect with clinicians, researchers, NGO leaders, policy makers, and persons with lived experience.
Showcase your research internationally in psychiatric rehabilitation science.
Be part of a once-in-a-generation celebration of the recovery movement in India since 1986.
December 4–6, 2026 · NIMHANS Convention Centre, Bengaluru · International delegates welcome
Co-Sponsored & Supported By
A warm word from the leadership of the International Conference on Rehab to Recovery 2026
It is common knowledge that the stigma suffered by people with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia also extends to their families. After nearly three decades in psychiatry, I have come to understand that the same stigma also attaches to their mental health professionals. Nowhere is this stigma more evident than in psychiatric rehabilitation. As psychiatry is to the other medical disciplines, rehabilitation is to psychiatry - a poor cousin, unglamorous, overlooked and often dismissed by young healthcare professionals.
I am not a rehabilitation psychiatrist, but my specialist neuropsychiatry training in the UK included neurorehabilitation at the specialist brain injury units of Scotland. This led to leadership roles - as a clinical director in the NHS in the UK, medical director of Manasa Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Bangalore, and chair of the Richmond Fellowship Society India. Together, these experiences have taught me that with enough imagination, courage, and scientific rigour, rehabilitation can be a place of innovation, meaningful recovery, and clinical excellence.
Join us at our International Rehabilitation Conference to challenge old assumptions, share evidence-based practice, and build a community that wears our shared stigma with pride, in solidarity and defiance, as we advance better care and brighter futures for the people we serve.
Psychosocial rehabilitation remains an essential pillar in supporting individuals with severe mental illness. Yet, many in our communities continue to face barriers in accessing these vital services.
For the past four decades, the Richmond Fellowship Society India (RFSI) has been steadfast in its mission to restore dignity, rebuild confidence, and improve quality of life for those we serve.
Founded in the UK in 1959 by Elly Jannsen, the Richmond Fellowship has grown into a global network spanning more than thirty locations. RFSI began its journey in Bangalore in 1986 under the visionary leadership of Dr. G. N. Narayana Reddy and colleagues, and has since expanded to Delhi, Lucknow, and Siddlaghatta (Karnataka), offering valuable rehabilitation services across diverse communities.
This year, we proudly celebrate the 40th anniversary of RFSI in India—a milestone that honors our legacy while highlighting the urgent need to strengthen the field of psychosocial rehabilitation. Despite progress, challenges remain, particularly in attracting committed young professionals who embody compassion, continuity, and commitment to care.
Our 40th anniversary conference will bring together mental health professionals, NGOs, students, family members, carers, and individuals with lived experience of severe mental illness. National and international experts will share knowledge, best practices, and inspiration—creating a collaborative platform for learning, exchange, and renewed dedication to this vital specialty.
We warmly invite you to join us in this celebration of resilience, dignity, and hope. Your presence will make this milestone truly memorable.
Patrons
Founder, The Richmond Fellowship Society (India)
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru
Faculty
Detailed Schedule
| DAY 1 – 04/12/2026 (FRIDAY) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Hall- A | Hall- B | HALL-C |
| 08:00 onwards | REGISTRATION | ||
| 09:00 10:00 | Keynote speech (Hall A) | ||
| THEME: REHAB TO RECOVERY/facilitator* | |||
| 10:00 - 10:15 | Tea Break | ||
| 10:15- 11:00 | PLENARY (Hall A) | ||
| SUB THEME 1: Rehabilitative Practices - The missing middle from Treatment to Recovery | |||
| 11:00 - 12:00 | SYMPOSIUM 1/ Panel Discussion | SYMPOSIUM 2/ Panel Discussion | SYMPOSIUM 3/ Panel Discussion |
| 12:00 - 13:00 | E-POSTER PRELIMS – SESSION 1 | E-POSTER PRELIMS – SESSION 1 | E-POSTER PRELIMS – SESSION 1 |
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch break | ||
| 14:00 - 15:00 | PLENARY (Hall A) | ||
| SUB THEME 2: Training in Rehabilitation -The Recovery Classroom | |||
| 15:00 - 16:00 | E-POSTER PRELIMS – SESSION 1 | ||
| 16:00 - 17:00 | SYMPOSIUM 4/ PANEL DISCUSSION | SYMPOSIUM 5/ PANEL DISCUSSION | SYMPOSIUM 6/ PANEL DISCUSSION |
| DAY 2 – 05/12/2026, SATURDAY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Hall- A | Hall- B | HALL-C |
| 08:00 onwards | REGISTRATION | ||
| 09:00 09:45 | PLENARY (Hall A) | ||
| SUB THEME 3: Research that matters - Future of Psychosocial Rehabilitation | |||
| 09:45 : - 10:00 | Tea break | ||
| 10:00 - 11:00 | SYMPOSIUM 7/ PANEL DISCUSSION | SYMPOSIUM 8/ PANEL DISCUSSION | SYMPOSIUM 9/ PANEL DISCUSSION |
| 11:00 - 12:00 | E-POSTER PRELIMS - SESSION 2 | ||
| 12:00-13:00 | E-POSTER PRELIMS - SESSION 3 | ||
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch break | ||
| 14:00 - 17:00 | INVITED WORKSHOP 1 | INVITED WORKSHOP 2 | INVITED WORKSHOP 3 |
| (SUB THEME 1) | (SUB THEME 2) | (SUB THEME 3) | |
| 17:00 onwards | CULTURAL PROGRAMME AND GALA DINNER | ||
| DAY 3 – 06/12/2026, SUNDAY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Hall- A | Hall- B | HALL – C |
| 09:00 – 9:45 | PLENARY (Hall A) | ||
| SUB THEME 4: Public Health & Advocacy: From Margins to Mainstream | |||
| 09:45 - 10:00 | Tea break | ||
| 10:00 - 11:00 | SYMPOSIUM 10/ PANEL DISCUSSION | SYMPOSIUM 11/ PANEL DISCUSSION | SYMPOSIUM 12/ PANEL DISCUSSION |
| 11:00 - 12:00 | E-POSTER FINALS | ||
| 12:00 - 13:00 | VALIDECTORY (HALL A/B) | ||
Guidelines and themes for symposia submissions.
Conference themes and subthemes.
We invite abstracts for poster presentation which can be submitted only online.
Abstract Submission
Deadline for the submission of the abstracts for the poster presentation is 31st August 2026.
Best posters will be awarded.
Poster presentations are open to researchers, students, and professionals in mental health, carers and peers with lived experience
Abstracts must relate to: "Rehab to Recovery" (Kindly refer to Themes of Conference)
Submissions will be reviewed by the Scientific Committee of the conference.
All E-Poster presenters must be registered delegates of the conference. Registration must be completed soon after acceptance of their abstract to be eligible to present their E-Poster at the conference.
Register now and secure your place at this landmark 40th anniversary conference
| Category | Early Bird – 31st August 2026 | Regular - 31st October 2026 | Spot Registration - 1st November onwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian/SAARC Delegates | INR 7080 | INR 8260 | INR 9440 |
| Foreign Delegates | USD 100 | USD 150 | USD 200 |
| NGOs | INR 3540 | INR 4720 | INR 5900 |
| Counsellors | INR 2360 | INR 2900 | INR 3540 |
| Students | INR 1180 | INR 1770 | INR 1770 |
| Families / caregivers / User | INR 1180 | INR 1770 | INR 1770 |
| * Registration fees is inclusive of GST @ 18% | |||
Delegates can complete registration through the official online portal. Use the button below or scan the QR code to proceed.
Please keep your Medical Council Registration No. (If applicable) ready while completing the registration form.
Register Online →
Scan to register online
NIMHANS Convention Centre, Bengaluru — venue information, city highlights, and travel guidance
About the Venue
Bengaluru is India's Silicon Valley — a city of lush parks, historic palaces, world-class cuisine, and a thriving arts scene. Make the most of your visit to this wonderful city.
NIMHANS Convention Centre
NIMHANS is one of India's premier institutions, located in the heart of Bengaluru, well-connected by metro, bus, and cab services.
The list of hotels with rates will be updated shortly by the Conference Secretariat.
Transport guides and local sightseeing options — including a visit to RFS facilities — will be provided by the Conference Secretariat. Please contact the organisers for detailed accommodation packages and group booking assistance.
Reach out to the Conference Secretariat for registration, abstract submission, or any general enquiries
