China Enhances Care for Vulnerable Populations with Mental Disorders and Extreme Hardships

China to Enhance Care for People with Mental Disorders and Extreme Hardships

In a move to protect the interests of vulnerable populations and regulate mental health institutions, China will be offering improved medical care and rehabilitation services to individuals facing extreme hardships and mental disorders.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the National Health Commission have jointly released a guideline outlining the optimized management of domestic mental health welfare institutions and their staff. These institutions primarily cater to older adults, people with disabilities, and children under 16 years old who are experiencing extreme living hardships, lack working ability, have unstable income, and suffer from mental disorders.

Vagrants, homeless individuals, and those receiving government assistance are also eligible to access services from these institutions.

"These individuals often require long-term medical treatment and lifelong rehabilitation assistance, which they can receive at the ministry-founded mental health welfare institutions," explained Zheng Zhende, an official from the civil affairs ministry. "These institutions provide not only life care services but also entertainment, living, and social skills training based on the patient's willingness and ability."

The ministry plans to continue investing in establishing more mental health welfare institutions to ensure greater access to services for individuals facing extreme hardships.

The guideline emphasizes the importance of providing services with a human touch and protecting the dignity, individual safety, and property of patients. Staff are prohibited from discriminating against, insulting, abusing, or abandoning patients, and must not restrict their freedom.

Furthermore, the guideline mandates that authorities at all levels increase the salaries of workers at these institutions and provide them with equal opportunities for continuing education and exchange programs compared to other medical institutions. Local authorities are also tasked with optimizing the evaluation system for these workers and ensuring fairer compensation and benefits.

The guideline takes effect on March 1st, 2023. Currently, China has approximately 141 mental health welfare institutions with 74,000 beds supervised by the ministry. Over 60,000 patients are currently receiving treatment and services at these institutions.