On the 29th, the Legislative Yuan will pass the "Amendment to Some Articles of the Mental Health Law" in third reading.

(Extracted from the Congress Channel live broadcast)

[Reporter Yang Chengyu/Taipei Report] The Legislative Yuan will pass the third reading on the 29th of the "Amendment to Some Articles of the Mental Health Law". In addition to implementing the patient's right to informed consent and complying with the principle of the judge's reservation, the "community support" is also defined in the law and updated The provisions to protect the rights and interests of family caregivers stipulate that the local competent authority shall provide mental health education, emotional support, respite service, hotline service and other supportive services to the family members of patients.

"Little Light Bulb Mom" ​​Times Power Legislator Wang Wanyu said after the third reading that she hopes that through the joint efforts of all walks of life, mentally ill patients can go home smoothly, reduce regret and pain, and make society safer.

The third reading approved the definition of "community support" and clearly listed matters under the control of the central and local authorities.

The Executive Yuan stated that this is in line with the spirit of Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to live independently and integrate into the community, so that patients can receive necessary assistance and services in community life, except for housing, resettlement, In addition to medical treatment, employment, schooling, and support, it also includes social participation, independent living, and other support services to help patients live in the community, participate in the community, and integrate into the community.

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In addition, in order to enhance cross-departmental cooperation and strengthen the concept of government integration, the revision of the law stipulates that agencies at all levels including education, internal affairs, legal affairs, national defense, culture, and economy should plan, promote, and supervise the promotion of mental health, prevention and treatment of mental illness, and mental illness. Rights and responsibilities for rights and interests protection.

In order to strengthen mental health in the workplace, various agencies, schools, institutions, legal persons and organizations should also strengthen the promotion of mental health promotion activities for employees.

Considering that patients with mental illness often combine multiple needs, continuous, long-term and diversified support services are required from the hospital to the community, that is, to connect with network services such as medical treatment, mental rehabilitation, support, schooling, and employment. The amendment also requires local competent authorities to provide full-time, day-time, home-based, community-based or other community support services on their own, entrusted, subsidized or rewarded institutions, legal persons or groups according to the needs of patients, so as to build a proper community support mechanism.

The amendment also adds a notification mechanism for various categories of personnel, including medical, social workers, education, police, firefighting, justice, immigration administration, household registration, village (district) officers and other community support personnel. Persons suspected of being mentally ill may notify the local competent authority to provide assistance in medical care, care, or community support services, so as to facilitate early detection and intervention.

In her speech after the third reading, Wang Wanyu pointed out that the Mental Health Law was her entrustment to voters before she took office. Along the way, there were also many non-governmental organizations, ministerial ministers, and colleagues in the Legislative Yuan. Everyone was looking forward to this moment.

Her mood at the moment, compared to being relieved, felt that there was a long way to go.

She also mentioned that the Chinese government has ignored the situation of mental patients for a long time. It has not provided enough community support, and has not established a transition from medical care to the community system, leaving many patients isolated and helpless. They can only go back and forth between the ward and the house. Then a heart-wrenching spiritual crisis and a tragedy of Changzhao's human relations occurred.

In addition to amending the law, the government must also face up to the problem of insufficient mental health budget.