25th - 27th June 2025 International workshop on “Ageing, Workplace and Mental Health: A Multipronged Approach to Addressing a Complex Bio-social Challenge"

The Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC) is a joint initiative of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). It supported a workshop on “Ageing, Workplace and Mental Health: A Multipronged Approach to Addressing a Complex Bio-social Challenge” at the Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany. It brought together interdisciplinary natural and social scientists and industry experts on a common platform. The Indo-German-Japan workshop focused on issues pertaining to mental wellbeing of elderly at workplace and in retirement in the Euro-Asian context, which is a pioneering initiative of its kind. Using interventions based on standard psychotherapy and taking into account novel developments in digital or neuromodulatory therapies coupled with policy advice were some of the discussion points. The workshop has paved way for exchange programme, joint publications and research cooperation project. This long-term project brings together not only Central Institute for Mental Health (CIMH) and National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) but also Academia-Industry partners for effective interventions (Academia-Industry-Clinic Partnerships). The workshop was jointly coordinated by Prof. Christian Schmahl, Central Institute of Mental Health, and Dr. Suboor Bakht, Heidelberg University.