Mental healthcare emerges from the shadows
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E-mail China Daily, February 3, 2012
Expectations
China, of course, is not the only country trying to provide mental health services more effectively and efficiently. The United States started in the 1960s to replace long-stay psychiatric hospitals with less isolated, community mental health service for people diagnosed with a mental disorder or developmental disability.
That movement reduced the number of psychiatric hospital beds from 560,000 to 140,000, and boosted the share of services provided outside hospitals from 22.6 to 71.6 percent. It also cut patients' expenditures on their illness, from $15,600 a year to $900, according to an article published last year in the journal Chinese Health Resources.
Yang, Huilongguan's president, said community mental health centers in many developed countries usually are staffed by clinical psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, doctors who treat physical illness, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and other support staff.
Each team has one or two psychiatrists. All team members have received professional training, and have not only solid professional knowledge but also rich social experiences to handle all kinds of interpersonal relationships.
Beijing carried out a survey on the living conditions of mentally disabled people last year. When the report is issued - no date has been announced - it is expected to recommend the addition of more psychiatric rehabilitation centers.
"The system has not yet been built in China," Yang said. "Jingxinyuan is the first attempt and we are calling for more. Having a good mental disease medical system is not only needed to meet the great need, but also to show the country's attitude toward mental disease.
"Despite good living conditions," he said, "a healthy mental condition is also essential to make a happy life."
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