Like most developed countries in the world, India with a proportion of nearly 9% senior citizens in the population has fallen in the category of graying country. This proportion is expected to escalate to 11.8% by 2015 and to 18.4% by the year 2025. In view of the alarming increase in the elderly population associated with high risk and higher prevalence of neuropsychiatric problems (average 20%) in them, the need for the establishment of speciality services, had become imperative. The mental health problems of elderly should no more be considered as extension of neuropsychiatric problems of adults since now it is proved in several researches that they are different. Thus there was a need to develop the facilities for clinical, academic and research activities exclusively dedicated to elderlies. There are departments of Geriatric Psychiatry in almost all the premier hospitals and teaching institutions of the world. The solo concerted effort of Dr. S. C. Tiwari has made this dream come true at this premier institute of the country.

The recently established superspecialityt Department of Geriatric Mental Health provides specialty clinical services to the elderly which includes rehabilitative and tertiary services on "out" as well as "in" patient basis. A community outreach programmes has been initiated to reduce the burden of care providers caring for the geriatric patients. Out-patient, In-patient, emergency and intensive care services are available. A State of Art National Centre for Geriatric Electroconvulsive Therapy has also been established which is providing ECT services to older adults. The department new functions as a platform for capacity building in the form of providing teaching and training to medical and paramedical personnel for the overall care of geriatric mental patients.