The Institute of Psychiatry is the academic unit of Rawalpindi Medical University and WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research & Training for whole of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO). It is the hub of mental health activities at local, national and international level encompassing the policy planning, mental health legislation, development of mental health services and developing mental health professionals, teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and research and evaluation. In addition, today it is considered as a centre of excellence for postgraduate training in psychiatry in the country and has the honour to claim that majority of fellows of CPSP have been trained at one time or the other in the corridors of the Institute of Psychiatry.

The Community mental health program launched by the Institute of Psychiatry brought about a revolution in mental health care in the country. It was later on adopted and reproduced by other countries of the World. The Institute took the initiative of organizing a meeting in collaboration with WHO and formulated the National Mental Health Program for Pakistan. This was the first program developed in East Mediterranean region. This program was later adapted by Government of Pakistan and is implemented in its 7th, 8th, 9th five-year plans.

The Institute was given the additional responsibility of substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation by WHO in 1997 and that has been looked after since then. President of Pakistan in 2001 announced the New Mental Health Ordinance of 2001 at concluding ceremony of the 13th International Psychiatric Conference. This ordinance was prepared with the major contribution of the Institute. The Institute was also designated as the collaborator and advisor for mental health services & policy on behalf of the National Action Plan for Non Communicable Diseases incorporating mental health as one of the priority non communicable disorders.

The Institute of Psychiatry was also designated as the focal point for developing health systems research & development at Rawalpindi Medical College through a LINK programme between Higher Education Commission and the British Council, Islamabad. The efforts culminated in developing a research link between Rawalpindi Medical College and the Nuffield Institute of Health management.

The Institute of Psychiatry is the academic unit of Rawalpindi medical College and the WHO Collaborating Centre for mental health research & training for whole of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) It started in 1973 as the department of psychiatry of Central Government Hospital, Rawalpindi (the present Rawalpindi General Hospital, Rawalpindi) and over the years attained an international repute as the Institute of Psychiatry on the Globe of Mental Health.

Professor Malik Hussain Mubbashar erected it in 1973 under a tree with no building and no staff. But the next thirty years saw it transforming it into the hub of mental health activities at local, national and international level encompassing the policy planning, mental health legislation, development of mental health services and developing mental health professionals, teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and research and evaluation. In addition, today it is considered as a centre of excellence for postgraduate training in psychiatry in the country and has the honour to claim that majority of fellows of CPSP have been trained at one time or the other in the corridors of the Institute of Psychiatry.

This long journey has some very notable milestones.
• 1976: The department got affiliated with Rawalpindi Medical College, Rawalpindi.
• 1982: The department organized 4th International Psychiatric Conference of Pakistan Psychiatric Society.
• 1985: Community mental health program was initiated. This program brought about a revolution in mental health care in the country. It was later on adopted and reproduced by other countries of the World.
• 1986: The Institute took the initiative of organizing a meeting in collaboration with WHO and formulated the National Mental Health Program for Pakistan. This was the first program developed in East Mediterranean region. This program was later adapted by Government of Pakistan and is implemented in its 7th, 8th, 9th five-year plans.
• 1987: The Institute was designated as WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Training. It is the first such centre in the East Mediterranean region. Since then the Institute has been actively contributing to WHO mental health activities at national and International level.
• 1987: The institute started the WHO Fellowship in Community Psychiatry.
• 1987: The Institute collaborated with the University of Manchester, where by the department became the focal point for the selection of psychiatrists for overseas training program.
• 1989: The Institute collaborated with the Institute of Child Health London. This link led to the development of various research projects in the under privileged areas of Rawalpindi District.
• 1990: The Institute organized the 8th International Psychiatric Conference of Pakistan Psychiatric Society
• 1991: The Institute collaborated with the British Council Pakistan for promotion of the health of under privileged population especially children and women. Multiple research projects were completed under this link. The Institute also developed links with the Institute of Psychiatry London and Royal College of Psychiatrists, London.
• 1997: New building was erected which comprised the administration block and the female ward.
• 1997: The Institute was given the additional responsibility of substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation by WHO that has been looked after since then.
• 2001: Institute of Psychiatry organized and hosted the 13th International Psychiatric Conference of Pakistan Psychiatric Society; over 100 foreign delegates participated in the conference.
• 2001: The President of Pakistan announced the New Mental Health Ordinance of 2001 at concluding ceremony of the 13th International Psychiatric Conference. This ordinance was prepared with the major contribution of the Institute.
• 2003: Prof. M. H. Mubbashar took over, as Vice Chancellor, University of Health Sciences, Lahore and Prof. Fareed Aslam Minhas became the Head of the Institute.
• 2004: The Institute of Psychiatry took the lead role in SEBoD (Socio Economic Burdens of Depression) Forum for the south pacific Region and Prof Fareed Minhas was designated as the Chapter Head for Pakistan
• 2004: The Institute was designated as the collaborator and advisor for mental health services & policy on behalf of the National Action Plan for Non Communicable Diseases incorporating mental health as one of the priority non communicable disorders.
• 2005: The Institute of Psychiatry was designated as the focal point for developing health systems research & development at Rawalpindi medical college through a LINK programme between Higher Education Commission and the British Council, Islamabad. The efforts culminated in developing a research link between Rawalpindi medical college and the Nuffield Institute of Health management.
• 2005: The Institute of Psychiatry formulated research proposals which were accepted for funding by the Ministry of Health, Islamabad.
• 2005: The Institute of Psychiatry secured a research grant from the Stanley Foundation, USA for a research project on early recognition of psychosis.
• 2006: The Institute of Psychiatry was assigned by the Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum (CINP) to formulate guidelines for anxiety and depression on a national basis.
• 2006: The Institute of Psychiatry developed a liaison with the University of Manchester for PhD Programmes in psychiatry.
• 2006: The Institute of Psychiatry was selected for the DelPHE programme (Developing Programmes for Higher Education) by the Department for International Development UK and has developed research collaboration between UK, Pakistan and Nepal.