Central Mental Health Authority notifies Classification and Categories of Mental Healthcare Establishments

On 12-8-2025, the Central Mental Health Authority notified the Mental Healthcare (Central Mental Health Authority) Amendment Regulations, 2025 to amend the Mental Healthcare (Central Mental Health Authority ) Regulations, 2020. The provisions came into force on 13-8-2025.

1. Amendment Explained: What’s changed and why it matters A new Chapter has been introduced relating to “Classification and Categories of Mental Health Establishments”.
2. The mental health establishments will be required to register with the Central or State Authority, as the case may be.

3. Classification and Categories:

   • Category A- Standalone Mental Health Establishments:

     ✓ It will have a standalone and dedicated center for providing in-patient mental health services, without being part of a general or multi-specialty hospital setup;

     ✓ It can include standalone central and state mental hospitals or institutes, private mental hospitals or institutes, and psychiatric nursing homes;

     ✓ Services it can provide- in patient care, comprehensive psychiatric services, including diagnostics, pharmacological and psychosocial interventions, and rehabilitation components.

   • Category B- Psychiatric Department of Medical Colleges:

     ✓ It will have in-patient facility as part of the psychiatric departments of medical colleges, providing integrated clinical and academic services;

     ✓ It can include in-patient psychiatric wards of government and private medical colleges;

     ✓ Services it can provide- integrated academic and clinical structure of medical colleges, clinical care, undergraduate/postgraduate training, psychiatric research, integrated care for co-morbid psychiatric and physical health conditions; outpatient services and emergency/crisis interventions.

   • Category C- Psychiatric Wards of Multi- specialty Hospitals:

     ✓ It will have a psychiatric unit or ward as part of general or multi-specialty hospitals, district mental health programme units and similar facilities, offering in-patient mental health services alongside other medical specialties;

     ✓ It can include in-patient psychiatric units, departments or wards within private multi-specialty hospitals and district mental health programme, district hospitals, sub-district or taluk hospitals and community health centres;

     ✓ Services it can provide- short to medium-term in-patient care, integrated care for co-morbid psychiatric and physical health conditions, outpatient services and emergency/crisis interventions.

   • Category D- Standalone De-addiction Centres:

     ✓ It will have a standalone or dedicated centre for providing specialised in-patient services for substance use disorders, without being part of any other health or mental health institution or organization;

     ✓ It can include standalone de-addiction centres, including facilities such as integrated rehabilitation centres for addicts and addiction treatment facilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment;

     ✓ Services it can provide- short-term detoxification to long-term residential rehabilitation, offering acute detoxification, withdrawal management, and rehabilitation.

   • Category E- Centres for Psychosocial Rehabilitation:

     ✓ It will have a centre for residential psychosocial rehabilitation and long-term community-based care for persons with mental healthcare needs, including support for activities of daily living, recovery, independent living, skill development and social reintegration;

     ✓ It can include quarter-way homes, halfway homes, and long-stay homes where overnight stay is provided;

     ✓ Services it can provide- life skills and vocational training, functional improvement and supportive residential environments, independent living facilities, community reintegration, and long-term supported care.