Mental health policy and implementation from 2009 to 2020 in China

Abstract

Mental health is a major component of overall health. Before 2009, the inequity between supply and demand of mental health services in China was extremely prominent, and the mental health service system faced significant challenges. In 2009, China embarked on its new healthcare system reform. The government attributed much more importance to mental health services and introduced a series of policies and measures to improve the mental health service system, as well as personnel service capability and service models. For example, the Mental Health Law was issued, community mental health services were expanded to the whole country, more psychiatric hospitals and clinics were built, the number of psychiatrists was increased through academic education, and a comprehensive mechanism of interdepartmental cooperation in mental health was established to improve service delivery. Furthermore, the mental health of key groups such as children, adolescents and older people was emphasized, and more attention was gradually paid to patients with common mental disorders to realize the stepwise transformation from an individual-focused mental health approach to a public-focused one. Most of the implementations began with pilot projects that developed practical experience and then expanded all over the country. This article summarizes and analyses the important mental health policies and implementations in China from 2009 to 2020 and prioritizes the next steps.