To thoroughly prioritize people’s health as a strategic focus, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) is aligning closely with major national strategies, such as the "Healthy China" initiative, to accelerate the development of the disciplines of psychiatry and clinical psychology. On October 17, the "Collaboration · Innovation · Shared Success" High-Quality Discipline Development Academic Forum and the Inauguration Ceremony of the Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology were successfully held at SJTUSM.

Cao Xuetao, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the National Health Commission, and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivered a speech.

In his speech, Cao Xuetao emphasized the critical role of mental health in achieving overall people’s health, noting that it is not only the foundation of personal well-being but also a vital pillar of social stability and development. He reviewed the significant initiatives undertaken by the National Health Commission to advance mental health and psychological well-being, including the establishment of the National Center for Mental Health and Psychological Disease Prevention and the National Medical Center for Mental Disorders. Cao Xuetao congratulated the newly inaugurated Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and expressed three key expectations: 1) Strengthen Talent Development: The institute should focus on cultivating specialists in psychiatry and clinical psychology, particularly in urgent areas such as mental health for children and adolescents and cognitive disorders in the elderly. 2) Prioritize Clinical Services: It should address pressing needs in mental health and psychological treatment, ensuring solutions for challenges faced by the public. 3) Expand International Perspective: The institute should actively engage on the global stage, sharing China's advancements in mental health and enhancing the international reputation and influence of the mental health sector.

Professor Jiang Fan presented the appointment letter to Liu Fang, officially appointing her as the Dean of the Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology.

Chancellor Fan Xianqun delivered a speech

Chancellor Fan Xianqun emphasized in his speech that people’s health is the foundation of a nation, and building a high-quality and advanced discipline in psychiatry and clinical psychology is crucial for safeguarding the physical and mental well-being of the people and enhancing their sense of happiness. He highlighted that the psychiatry and clinical psychology discipline at SJTUSM has established a distinctive profile characterized by collaboration between basic and clinical sciences as well as interdisciplinary integration with engineering. With robust comprehensive strength, the discipline has gained significant academic reputation and influence both domestically and internationally. The establishment of the Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology aims to integrate SJTUSM’s clinical resources effectively, accelerate the development of the National Medical Center for Mental Disorders, and strengthen the dual-track system of psychiatry and clinical psychology. With a core focus on education, talent cultivation, and scientific research, the school seeks to comprehensively enhance the discipline’s overall strength and further elevate the quality of mental health and psychiatric services.

Zhao Wenhua, Deputy Secretary of SJTUSM, read out the decision on the establishment of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine's School of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, as well as the list of the Dean and Vice Deans.

Fang Yong, Vice Chancellor of SJTUSM, presented appointment letters to Fang Yiru, Luo Yanli, and Wang Guanghai, the newly appointed Vice Deans of the Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology.

Zheng Junke, Vice Chancellor of SJTUSM, hosted the inauguration ceremony of the Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology.

Representatives from the Psychiatry and Psychology Departments of the affiliated hospitals of SJTUSM jointly unveiled the emblem of the Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology.

A congratulatory video was sent by Professor Lu Lin, President of Peking University Sixth Hospital, President of Shandong First Medical University, and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Dean Liu Fang introduced the development plan for the newly established institute. The institute will leverage “integration” as a cornerstone, bringing together the mental health teams from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and its affiliated hospitals, creating a collaborative mechanism and system. The focus will be on basic research, aligning with national strategic initiatives in mental health and psychological well-being. The goal is to build a national-level platform, focusing on pressing social issues such as the mental health of children and adolescents, as well as refractory mental and psychological disorders, through interdisciplinary collaboration. The institute will strengthen the dual-track system of psychiatry and clinical psychology, emphasizing talent cultivation and attraction, with a focus on educational development. It will establish a mechanism for training mental health professionals within the medical school, enhancing the comprehensive strength of the discipline and aiming to establish a world-class specialty institute that leads in China and reaches international excellence.

After the inauguration ceremony, the “Collaboration, Innovation, and Win-Win” Academic Forum on High-Quality Discipline Development was held. Academicians Zhan Qimin, Dong Jiahong, and Gao Tianming, all members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivered keynote speeches on the topics “Scientific and Technological Innovation Supporting Modern Medical Development,” “Clinical-Driven Multidisciplinary Integrated Medical Research Paradigm,” and “Research Progress on New Antidepressant Drug Targets,” respectively. These experts shared the latest academic achievements and trends in the field of big health. The academic reports were hosted by Dean Liu Fang of the Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology.