Kerala High Court directs State to consider renaming ‘Mental Health Centres’, citing concerns of stigma
The Kerala High Court has suggested that the state government rename 'Mental Health Centres' to reduce the social stigma associated with the term. The court proposed 'Institutes of Behavioural Management' as a more inclusive alternative.
Why it matters
It addresses the intersection of language, public policy, and the destigmatization of mental health care in India.
The Kerala High Court has directed the competent authorities of the State government to consider suggestions to rename “Mental Health Centres” across the State, observing that the name “attracted a lot of stigma”.
A Division Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Basant Balaji noted that when other hospitals were not termed “Centres of Physical Health”, there was no reason for these centres to be tagged as “Mental Health Centres”, with the disrepute of catering to a particular kind of disorder or illness.
In this regard, the amicus curiae suggested that the centres be renamed as “Institutes of Behavioural Management”. The court held that it was a matter of policy and the decision was completely up to the State.
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