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Authorities unveil mental health plan

The Department of Health yesterday unveiled a proposal to make it compulsory for people with mental illnesses to receive treatment for their conditions at the community level.

If the proposal is implemented, Taiwan could become the first country in Asia to introduce the system.

The health department said it would first launch the program in one or two counties or cities on a trial basis next year.

Authorities will then evaluate the program and gather opinions from patients and family members before deciding whether to expand it, Bureau of Medical Affairs head Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said.

Shih said approximately 100,000 people nationwide have been issued certificates by health authorities identifying them as suffering from severe mental disorders. Of these, 9,000 are considered unstable.

MEDICATION

Community therapy would be mandatory for medicated patients who do not meet the criteria for compulsory hospitalization but are not taking their medication, Shih said.

Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry president Chen Cheng-chung (陳正宗) said persons with severe mental disorders must be screened by a committee before being forcibly hospitalized. Of the cases severe enough to reach that point, between 10 percent and 15 percent are not recommended for hospitalization.

LIVING AT HOME

Very often, however, families with loved ones suffering from severe mental disorders do not know how to care for them if they stay at home, Chen said. Some patients do not take medication prescribed by their doctors, causing their condition to worsen, he said.

Under the health department’s new proposal, patients could be required to report to a rehabilitation center once a day or to receive home visits from a case manager once a week to check on their condition and ensure they are taking their medication.

In cases of severe mental illness, family members and community leaders should contact health authorities.
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