IPS, IMA keralam units oppose ‘Happiness and Wellness’ tag for mental health centres

Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS), Kerala, and the Indian Medical Association, Kerala, have opposed the proposed renaming of Government mental health centres as “Happiness and Wellness Centres”, arguing that removing the concept of ‘psychiatry’ from the identity of specialist medical institutions in an attempt to tackle stigma could instead undermine the scientific and medical nature of psychiatric care.

IPS Keralam pointed out that mental health centres are, first and foremost, tertiary level treatment centres in the public sector that offer guideline-based modern psychiatric treatment to all patients, including those with serious mental disorders. These are also eminent training and research institutions and calling them “happiness and wellness centres” is unscientific, to say the least, it said.