Kerala psychiatrists object to renaming of state mental health centres

Kerala's health department has announced a proposal to rename several mental health centres in the state, citing a desire to modernise the image of psychiatric care. The move has drawn immediate pushback from the professional community. A coalition of psychiatrists issued a statement saying that changing the names could undermine public awareness of existing facilities and dilute the focus on mental health services. They argued that the existing names, many of which are well‑known locally, should be retained to avoid confusion among patients and caregivers. The debate is now ongoing, with officials indicating that they will consider the concerns raised by the medical fraternity before finalising any changes.