Membership Categories
- Ordinary members: shall include, unless otherwise specified, members who have sought and received membership as per their eligibility as Psychiatric Social Workers as defined in Article 2.4 and hold membership as per Article 4.1 through the payment of an initial non-refundable admission fee and the annual membership fee. Special consideration will be made for those who have completed their Master of Philosophy in Psychiatric Social Work (without a Masters in Social Work) obtained after completion of a full-time course of two years which includes supervised clinical training from any University recognized by the University Grants Commission established under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 or such recognized qualifications prior to the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 final promulgation to be considered for membership under the category: ordinary members.
- Life members: shall include, unless otherwise specified, members who have sought and received membership as Psychiatric Social Workers as defined above and hold membership through a lifetime subscription.
- Certified ordinary or life member: shall include Psychiatric Social Workers as life or ordinary members who have qualified the continuing professional improvement programs conducted by the Association for the prescribed year.
- Honorary Fellows: shall include nominated Psychiatric Social Work Professionals as members above the age of 65 years who, by virtue of their contribution to the profession of Psychiatric Social Work are invited or nominated to become members in recognition and acknowledgment of their value creation. Such nomination shall be provided through rigorous processes of selection based on predetermined criteria. Such members shall not be required to pay the one-time initial non-refundable deposit or the annual membership fee.
- Professional Member: shall include only Honorary Fellows and Ordinary and Life members who fit the definition of Psychiatric Social Workers as per Article 2.4.
- Associate members: shall include professionals such as Social Workers, Medical Social Workers, and Sociologists working in the field of Mental Health, Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Psychiatric Nurses, etc. who are interested in upholding the aims and objects of the Association and becoming members of the Association. They can become members through the payment of an initial non-refundable admission fee and the annual fee or lifetime subscription.
- Distinguished Fellows: shall include distinguished persons who are not eligible to become Fellows of the Association under the eligibility criteria as Psychiatric Social Workers or Associate Members but have made valuable contributions towards the promotion of Mental Health and Psychiatric Social Work. Such members shall not be required to pay the one-time initial non-refundable deposit or the annual membership fee.
- Corresponding Fellows: shall include eminent Psychiatric Social Workers of other countries who are well known for their contributions or services in the field of Mental Health. They can become members through the payment of an initial non-refundable admission fee and the annual or lifetime subscription.
- Corporate Fellows: shall include members from voluntary and private bodies whose aims and objects or work encompasses the domain of mental health. They can become members through the payment of an initial non-refundable admission fee and annual or lifetime subscription.
- Student member: shall include those pursuing M.Phil Psychiatric Social Work course as specified in Mental Healthcare Act 2017. They shall pay half the annual subscription. Such members, after completion of the course qualification to be considered eligible as Psychiatric Social Workers, shall pay the one-time initial non-refundable deposit to become ordinary members along with continued annual subscription or lifetime membership fee.
Subscription
Membership is given to interested individuals and organizations that fulfill the selection described in Article 2.4 after having completed the admission documentation and after having made payment of Rs. 3000/- (Rupees Three Thousand only) as one-time initial non-refundable admission fees and an annual amount fee of Rs. 1000/- towards Association maintenance or the admission and annual fee as decided by the General Body at the Annual General Body Meeting from time to time. A Lifetime membership one-time subscription fee of Rs. 10,000 or as decided by the General Body at the Annual General Body Meeting from time to time shall be paid by those who desire to hold lifetime membership.
Note:
- Article 2.4 in the bye-law deals with the definition of a Psychiatric Social Worker. The association had adopted the definition of “Psychiatric Social Worker“ as per Chapter 1, Section 1 (x) of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
- Article 1 in the bye-law deals with the right to membership
Application form