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{{Short description|Indian psychiatrist and mental health advocate}}
{{AI-generated|date=July 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = C. R. Chandrashekar
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Chandrashekar Channapatna Rajannachar
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|06|06}}
| birth_place = Karnataka, India
| occupation = Psychiatrist, academic, author
| known_for = Mental health outreach, District Mental Health Programme
| alma_mater = Bangalore Medical College, [[National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences|NIMHANS]]
| awards = * [[Padma Shri|Padma Shri 2024]]
* Rajyotsava Award<br>Kempegowda Award
}}

'''Chandrashekar Channapatna Rajannachar''' (born 6 June 1948) is an Indian psychiatrist, academic, and mental health advocate. He served as a professor and Deputy Medical Superintendent at the [[National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences]] (NIMHANS), [[Bengaluru|Bangalore]].<ref name="padma">{{cite web |title=Dr. C. R. Chandrashekar |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/CitationsForTickets/2024/2024100.pdf |website=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=26 January 2024 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref> He is known for his contributions to community psychiatry and public mental health in India.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-04-03 |title=Self-awareness is key to success: Dr. C.R. Chandrashekar |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/self-awareness-is-key-to-success-dr-cr-chandrashekar/article69409242.ece |access-date=2025-07-01 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Chandrashekar was born on 6 June 1948. He completed his MBBS from [[Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute|Bangalore Medical College]] in 1973. He later obtained a Diploma in Psychological Medicine and an M.D. in Psychiatry from NIMHANS in 1976 and 1978, respectively.<ref name="padma"/>

In 1981, Chandrashekar joined the Department of Psychiatry at NIMHANS as a faculty member. He worked in general psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, and community psychiatry.<ref name="toi2024">{{cite news |title=Padma award adds halo to 'People's Psychiatrist' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/padma-award-adds-halo-to-peoples-psychiatrist/articleshow/107177800.cms |work=The Times of India |date=26 January 2024 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

He played a key role in formulating and implementing the ''National Mental Health Programme'' in 1982 and developed the Bellary model of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), which is now implemented in over 400 districts across India.<ref name="et2016">{{cite news |title=Dr C R Chandrashekar, People's Psychiatrist, gives free treatment |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/dr-cr-chandrashekar-peoples-psychiatrist-gives-free-treatment/articleshow/54778520.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=10 October 2016 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

Chandrashekar has been an advocate for mental health awareness across Karnataka. In 2007, he established the SAMADHANA Centre, providing free consultations to over 30,000 patients. Since 1980, he has also worked at Prasanna Counselling Centre, where over one lakh individuals have received care.<ref name="nie2021">{{cite news |title='People's psychiatrist' |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2021/Jul/27/peoplespsychiatrist-2335781.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=27 July 2021 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="star2024">{{cite web |title=Noted psychiatrist Dr. C. R. Chandrashekar felicitated in city |url=https://starofmysore.com/noted-psychiatrist-dr-c-r-chandrashekar-tribal-leader-somanna-felicitated-in-city/ |website=Star of Mysore |date=29 January 2024 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

He has donated his personal assets and property to NIMHANS. His lifelong dedication to mental health care, training, and outreach continues to influence public psychiatry in India.<ref name="zeebiz">{{cite news |date=26 January 2024 |title=Padma Shri to Dr Chandrashekar, 'People's Psychiatrist' who adopted villages, went to doorsteps to treat patients |url=https://www.zeebiz.com/india/news-padma-shri-to-dr-chandrashekar-peoples-psychiatrist-who-adopted-villages-went-to-doorsteps-to-treat-patients-273633 |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=Zee Business}}</ref>

==Publications and research==
He has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed articles in national and international journals and has contributed extensively to public awareness through books and articles in Kannada and English.<ref name="deccanchronicle">{{cite news |title=Urban legend: The People's Psychiatrist and his happiness hypothesis |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/health-and-wellbeing/010417/urban-legend-the-peoples-psychiatrist-and-his-happiness-hypothesis.html |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=1 April 2017 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

He has also worked as a consultant to the [[World Health Organization]] on community psychiatry.<ref name="padma" /><ref>{{cite web | title= Janca, A, Chandrashekar, C. R & World Health Organization. Division of Mental Health (1995). Catalogue of WHO psychiatric assessment instruments / prepared by A. Janca and C. R. Chandrashekar, 2nd ed. World Health Organization. World Health Organization. | url = https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/62036 | publisher = World Health Organization | access-date = 28 December 2025 }}</ref>

==Awards ==
* Chandrashekar received the [[Padma Shri]] in 2024 for his contributions to medicine.<ref name="padma" />
* Rajyotsava Award - Government of Karnataka <ref name="padma" />
* Kempegowda Award - Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)<ref name="padma"/>
* National Award for Popularising Science - Government of India and UGC <ref name="padma"/>
* Eminent Psychiatrist Award - Indian Psychiatric Society (Karnataka and South Zone)<ref name="padma"/>
* Lifetime Achievement Awards - Karnataka State Science and Technology Academy, Kannada Vaidya Vijnana Parishat<ref name="deccanherald">{{cite news |title=Padma awardees: The commitment and social concern |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/padma-awardees-the-commitment-and-social-concern-2866857 |work=Deccan Herald |date=27 January 2024 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Medicine|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandrashekar, C.R.}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian psychiatrists]]
[[Category:Mental health professionals]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in medicine]]
[[Category:Medical doctors from Karnataka]]
[[Category:People from Bengaluru]]

C. R. Chandrashekar - Revision history

HughStoate90988 at 04:20, 21 January 2026