Abstract
Purpose : Mental health service desire has been diversified according to the increase of economic level and rapid social change. Mental Health and Welfare Center(MHWC) is a provider of mental health services in Japan. This is a basic stage study which will suggest the architectural planning guidelines for MHWC. Methods : Data were collected through literature research, field surveys, and expert interviews to 69 MHWC in Japan. 1) Research for the policy and legal aspects of mental health support system. 2) Research for structural aspects of MHWC: Characteristics of establishment, management, and regional factors. 3) Research for the physical environment aspects of MHWC: Classification and evaluation of MHWC's Type by locational characteristics in Japan. Results : The result of this study can be summarized into three points. The first one, Mental Health and Welfare Center's service has being expanded to suicide, depression and stress from chronic mental illness, to reflect social needs. The second one, The average population of area installed at Mental Health and Welfare Center was 2,307,570 person, and average area of the regions were $5,745m^2$. The third one, Mental Health and Welfare Center is divided into single-structure type and combine-structure type. And combine-structure type is divided into medical-combine type, welfare-combine type, and public-combine type.