On the eve of Mental Health Day, foreign students of Kirov State Medical University, guided by their curators (Associate Professors A.N. Komarova and S.A. Timina from the Department of Russian Language and Intercultural Communication) embarked on a visit to the Centre for Psychiatry and Mental Health named after Academician V.M. Bekhterev.

      The immersion into the world of psychiatry began with a documentary, unveiling the century-old history of the institution and the life of their brilliant countryman, academician V.M. Bekhterev. But the past truly came alive in the Centre's museum. Students discovered a treasure trove of unique exhibits, from fragile medical records dating back to the early 1900s to evocative paintings created by patients, each piece a silent testimony to a personal story.

      The students were deeply moved by the historical methods of treating mental illnesses and captivated by the story of unwavering dedication from the dispensary's first senior doctor, L.K. Gromozova. The tour concluded not within museum walls, but in the serene park nearby. Strolling through the beautiful autumn landscape, students discovered therapeutic greenhouses where patients work, whimsical installations inspired by fairy tales, and a vibrant "bird house" that serves as a home to majestic peacocks and other exotic birds.

      This excursion was made possible through the efforts of Professor E.N. Sizova of the Department of Management and Commodity Science and the dedicated Department of International Relations of Kirov State Medical University.