T’puram: The state branch of the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS-KSB) has opposed the proposal to rename state-run mental health centres, arguing that dropping the term “mental” could create legal, clinical and administrative complications.In a letter to the Director of Health Services, IPS-KSB said the proposal to rename the centres as “Institutes of Behavioural Management” or “Centre for Happiness and Wellness” was aimed at reducing stigma associated with mental illness. However, the society cautioned that the proposed terminology could conflate mental health conditions with outward behaviour and create clinical blind spots.The society pointed out that the term “mental” is deeply embedded in country’s legal and regulatory framework. The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 defines mental illness and requires facilities to be registered as “Mental Health Establishments”. According to the IPS-KSB, an “Institute of Behavioural Management” has no recognised legal standing, potentially affecting oversight by Mental Health Review Boards and weakening patient rights.The society also raised concerns over licensing and insurance. It said psychiatry is formally recognised as a specialty under the Clinical Establishments Act, while “behavioural management” is not. It further warned that changing the nomenclature could create difficulties with insurance claims, as insurers might argue that treatments offered under the new terminology are non-medical behavioural interventions.The IPS-KSB said the stigma surrounding mental health institutions stems primarily from inadequate infrastructure, staff shortages and the long-term abandonment of patients rather than from the word “mental” itself. It noted that institutions such as NIMHANS and IMHANS retain the term while addressing stigma through improved care and research.The society also highlighted the importance of retaining standard terminology in the international healthcare system. It said the World Health Organization and UN Sustainable Development Goals explicitly use the term “mental health”.
