Dr Sarada Menon, India’s first woman psychiatrist, died of age-related ailments at 98, in Chennai. The longest-serving head of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Dr. Menon was popular among both patients and fellow professionals. Dr Sarada, authored many papers on mental health. The acclaimed psychiatrist was bestowed with the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and many other national and international awards.

An alumni of Madras Medical College, Dr Sarada Menon was trained in psychiatry at the Bengaluru-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences. Until recently, the aged Doctor practiced medicine, treating patients from her modest clinic set up at her residence on Kilpauk's Ormes Road. 'She had a simple consulting room outside which were a few benches for patients,' said senior psychiatrist R Thara, a student with whom she founded the Schizophrenia Research Foundation.

Rehabilitation was one of her key focuses. With a smile and dressed in crisp cotton saris, she attended to her patients. In September, Dr Menon was among senior doctors to come to R’vive Café, a collaborative initiative of the IMH and Hot Breads, managed by people recovering from mental illness. 'When we browsed the need for rehab of our patients, particularly the long staying mentally-ill patients, she helped us a lot,' said health secretary J Radhakrishnan. 'I never missed her classes,' remembered Dr. Lakshmi Vijayakumar, the founder of SNEHA, an NGO in Chennai,  for the prevention of suicide.