MIMH was established on 18th March 1991 in the campus of Sassoon General Hospital, Pune. Dr.Mohan Agashe, then Professor and Head of Department of Psychiatry, B.J.G.M.C. was instrumental in the establishment of this Institute. A project, named STRIMHANS (State Training and Research Institute in Mental Health and Neurosciences) under the leadership of Dr. Agashe was submitted to the Government of Maharashtra in 1989 for the effective implementation of National Mental Health Programme. The institute provided post disaster management relief and psychosocial support services to 3541 people affected due to "Killari Earthquake" disaster in 1993. The institute was Nodal agency for implementation of National Mental Health Program in state of Maharashtra. During the tenure of Dr.Alka Pawar as Director, this Institute received recognition as a 'Center of Excellence' in the field of Mental Health by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in the year 2009. The Institute has further consolidated and expanded during the directrorship of Dr.Ajay Chandanwale, with starting of various courses in mental health and construction of new mental health complex at Pashan campus Pune.
MIMH is located in the campus of Sassoon General Hospital and is functioning jointly with the department of Psychiatry, B. J. Govt. Medical College & Sassoon General Hospital, Pune. It also has grown and now has a speciality section in the lush green and serene surroundings of Pashan , away from the crowded city of Pune. It provides a peaceful environment well suited for the recovery and rehabilitation of patients with psychiatric disorders while still remaining easily accessible. MIMH is proud to have its own library, with a vast collection of books, both academic and non-academic, on various subjects such as psychiatry, psychology, psychiatric social work, psychiatric nursing, philosophy, history, literature, self-help, sociology etc. The access to various national and international journals both online and offline is also available.
MIMH has a trained faculty in the departments of psychiatry, clinical psychology, psychosocial rehabilitation and psychiatric nursing. It is affiliated to the Medical Council of India (MCI) & the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) and conducts various degree, diploma and short courses in the field of psychiatry, psychology, psychiatric social work and psychiatric nursing. One of the main objectives of MIMH is the generation of high quality professionnel. The alumni of the MIMH are currently working in various parts of the country and also abroad.