Kerala to replace ‘mental health centre’ label with ‘Happiness and Wellness Centres’

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala will rename its three mental health centres as ‘Happiness and Wellness Centres’ as part of a move to make mental healthcare more welcoming and expand the range of services offered, Health Minister K Muraleedharan said on Wednesday.

The decision, taken in accordance with a Kerala High Court direction, is aimed at modernising the centres and shifting the focus from treating mental illness alone to promoting overall mental and social well-being, the minister said at a press conference.

“The centres will be transformed into places that promote happiness and well-being,” Muraleedharan said, adding that the government would upgrade their infrastructure and ensure the deployment of adequate staff.

The revamped centres will cater not only to people with mental illnesses but also to those seeking help for stress, anxiety, sleep problems, loneliness, workplace pressure and family-related concerns.

Services will include counselling, mental health awareness programmes, stress management and lifestyle interventions. The centres could also introduce activities such as yoga, meditation, exercise, reading, cultural programmes and group sessions to promote physical, mental and social well-being.

The minister said the change in nomenclature was intended to reduce the hesitation some people may feel about seeking mental healthcare, as the term ‘mental health centre’ is often associated with severe mental illness.

The centres could also play a role in identifying mental health concerns among young people, including stress, loneliness, the risk of substance use, and issues linked to education and employment.

24x7 speciality services at district hospitals

The state government has also decided to introduce 24x7 speciality services at district and general hospitals to reduce the pressure on medical college hospitals, Muraleedharan said.

The facilities, to be known as ‘Pratheeksha’ centres, will provide round-the-clock services in medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, paediatrics and gynaecology.

A trial run began at Punalur Taluk Headquarters Hospital on September 1, with the facility expected to become fully operational by September 10.

The government plans to establish at least one such centre in every district and deploy additional staff as the programme expands. It has also decided to identify and redeploy staff who are not being effectively utilised in some locations.

‘Hridayaragam’ campaign to target lifestyle diseases

The minister also announced a new community-based public health campaign, ‘Hridayaragam’, aimed at detecting lifestyle diseases early and reducing the growing burden of treatment costs.

The campaign will initially be piloted in three Assembly constituencies — Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki and Nilambur in Malappuram — before being expanded across the state based on the results.

Everyone aged above 18 will undergo population-based screening and risk assessment and be classified as being at mild, moderate or high risk, Muraleedharan said.

Those identified as being at risk will be connected with specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, treatment and follow-up care. Newly diagnosed patients will be registered and provided with an individual health diary.

The campaign will include household surveys, risk assessments, screening camps, health fairs, peer-support groups, diagnostic testing and measures to ensure the availability of essential medicines.

High-risk patients will receive consultation, investigations and treatment within 24 hours, while others will be connected with appropriate services within two weeks, the minister said.

Muraleedharan said the initiatives were part of the UDF government's efforts to overhaul the state's health system during its first 100 days in office.

“We are initiating change. Change is inevitable,” he said.