The Institute of Mental Health (IMH), the Sixth Hospital of Peking University (also known as the School of Mental Health, Peking University), is an integrated center for psychiatric service, training, and research. It is designated by World Health Organization (WHO) as WHO / Beijing Mental Health Collaborating Center for Research and Training and by Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China-CDC) as the National Center for Mental Health.

Mental health specialty of Peking University was founded in 1942 as the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Beijing Medical University (now the Peking University Health Science Center).

In 1951, a Mental Hospital affiliated with the First Teaching Hospital of Peking University was founded. The Department of Psychiatry responsible for teaching and research was established in 1954.

The Unit of Neuroelectrophysiology was developed in 1954, and the Unit of Psychobiochemistry founded in 1962.

In 1966, the Mental Hospital and the Department of Psychiatry were moved to the Third Teaching Hospital of Beijing Medical University.

In March 1980, the Institute of Mental Health of Beijing Medical College was established.

On February 26, 1982 the IMH was designated by the World Health Organization as the first Chinese Mental Health Collaborating Center for Research and Training.

In February 1987, the Chinese Mental Health Journal was formally issued and affiliated with the IMH.

In 1989, the mental health major was established in the Beijing Medical University. During 1989 to 1999, six waves of students were trained as mental health specialists.

On October 6, 1992 the institute moved into the current address and was entitled the Sixth Hospital of Beijing Medical University.

In 1993, the National Key Laboratory for Mental Health was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Health.

In 1997, the Sixth Hospital of Beijing Medical University was certified at the top 3 level of psychiatric hospitals.

In 1998, the Base for Drug Clinical Trials was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Health.

In April 2000, Peking University and Beijing Medical University merged. The institute and hospital were renamed the Institute of Mental Health and the Sixth Hospital of Peking University.

In December 2001, the Base for Chinese National Continuing Medical Education in Psychiatry was founded in the IMH by the Chinese Ministry of Health.

In February 2002, psychiatry and mental health was approved as one of the National Key Disciplines by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.

In June 2002, the institute was designated as the National Center for Mental Health, China-CDC.

In July 2002, the Clinical Psychology Center of Peking University was set up in the IMH.

In December 2004, the IMH was entitled the School of Mental Health of Peking University.

In March 2014, Peking University Health Science Center Sleep Medicine Center located in IMH.

In October 2014, The China National Clinical Research Center for Psychiatric and Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital) was identified by Ministry of Science and Technology and National Health and Family Planning Commission.

In October 2014, Peking University-Lieber Translational Neuropsychiatry Research Institution Center was founded and located at Peking University Sixth Hospital.

Previous directors

1942-1953, Dr. Xu Yingkui as the chair of the department

1953-1972, Dr. Wu Zhengyi as the chair of the department

1973-1980, Dr. Shen Yucun as the chair of the department

1980-1997, Dr. Shen Yucun as the director of the IMH

1997-2001, Dr. Cui Yuhua as the director of the IMH

2001-2004, Dr. Yu Xin as the associate director of the IMH

2004-2013, Dr. Yu Xin as the director of the IMH

2013-current, Dr. Lu Lin as the director of the IMH

Previous secretary of Chinese Communist Party

January 1981-August 1981, Dr. Shen Yucun

August 1984-March. 1986, Dr. Li Congpei

March 1986-Sepmtmber 1987, Dr. Chen Erqiao

December 1987-June 1994, Dr. Zhang Jinyue

April 1995-April 1998, Dr. Wang Yufeng

April 1998-April 2003, Dr. Zhou Dongfeng

April 2003-October 2012, Dr. Huang Yueqin

October 2012-December 2020, Dr. Wang Xiangqun

December 2020-current, Ms. Chen Binbin