On July 28, 2022, the Shanghai Mental Health Center was officially approved as a national center for mental disorders according to the Notice of the National Health Commission on the Establishment of the National Center for Mental Disorders. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, through promoting the construction of the National Center for Mental Disorders, the Center will strive to become a national gathering place for high-end psychiatry talent, a source of new clinical treatment technologies, a contributor to China's professional guidelines and related models, and reach international first-class standards in comprehensive management, clinical services and discipline development.

The National Center for Mental Disorders is committed to serving the national strategic goal of "Health China 2030" to address the four major problems in the mental health services in China, namely the difficulties in treating severe mental disorders, the relatively backward technical means, the unbalanced distribution of service resources and the lack of talent resources. It will carry out the following work:

Setting up a center for the diagnosis and treatment of serious mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, material use disorders, cognitive disorders and mental health problems of special groups (the elderly, women and children), developing treatment plans for serious disorders, and preparing guidelines, technical specifications and relevant standards for the treatment of diseases, to achieve precise treatment, individualized treatment and standardized treatment of serious mental disorders.

Conducting research and development of emerging technologies (precision medication, artificial intelligence and big data, neuromodulation and new clinical drugs) and international multi-center clinical studies to promote appropriate and effective high-level treatment technologies across the country.

Training psychiatrists, psychotherapists, therapists and public health talent with an international vision and focusing on both clinic and research, and transmitting them to the whole country.

Building a mental psychology alliance covering the Yangtze River Delta and radiating the whole country, developing a whole-process service model of prevention-treatment-rehabilitation based on "Internet +"; exploring the transformation of the mental health service system and improving the comprehensive service capacity for mental health.

Building a platform for international exchange and cooperation in the field of psychiatric medicine with international influence, strengthening international exchanges and cooperation in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders and psychiatric healthcare technologies, telling the story of China to promote people's mental health, and enhancing the international right of speech of the Chinese psychiatric community.

The Director of the Center, President Zhao Min, is fully responsible for the construction of the Center, and has set up a leading group and a working group with four departments, namely the Department of General Affairs, the Department of Clinical Medicine, the Department of Scientific Research and the Department of Public Health Services, to jointly promote the implementation and development of the specific work of the National Center for Mental Disorders.