Editor's  Note

A recent spate of violent attacks involving the allegedly mentally ill have occurred in China, a complex issue that has caused existing systemic problems and prejudices to resurface. To prevent similar tragedies from reoccurring, all of society must show its support and take an increased stake in the future of China’s mentally ill.

Recent cases
Jul 30	Shenzhen	Three people died and another five were injured in a knife attack that occurred in Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province.
Jul 23	Dongxing	At around 8 am, a knife-wielding man broke into the Dongxing Family Planning Bureau in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, stabbing two employees to death and injuring four others.
Jul 22	Beijing	A knife-wielding man killed a woman and injured three people, including a 2-year-old boy, in a supermarket in Beijing.
Jul 17	Beijing	Two people, including a foreigner, were killed by a knife-wielder in Beijing.

Comments

Xinhua: Assaults by mentally ill reveal systematic flaws
"If not treated properly, 20 percent of mental patients with severe conditions are prone to attacking others or harming themselves," said Sun Jian, the head of a psychiatric hospital in Jinan, capital of Shandong Province.

Of the 16 million severe cases, 70 percent were never institutionalized for proper treatment, he said, citing shortages of medical resources as the major cause.

Daily Sunshine: Attacks by mentally ill threaten public security
Violence perpetrated by the mentally ill has become an issue of public security. In addition to the many volunteer and social organizations, the government should take greater responsibility and provide treatment for psychiatric disease in the public health system.

People’s Daily: Love is all you need
Unfortunately we only pay attention to the mentally ill in matters of violence. What is more unfortunate is that often the public quickly shifts its focus to other problems and this issue once again goes unresolved. If the government, hospitals, communities and families offer more love and support to those suffering from mental diseases, society will become more harmonious and safe.

jinbaonet.com: Treatment for mentally ill begins with public concern
The root cause behind the recent attacks involving the mentally ill is inadequate treatment due to lack of public investment and public concern. We must all make contributions to prevent similar tragedies.

sina.com: Mental disease not a ‘license to kill’
The Mental Health Law, which went into effect on May 1, ensures the rights and protection of the mentally ill, yet China continues to struggle with solving mental health issues such as treatment and management. Upon further analysis of this vague law, mentally disordered offenders are exempt from criminal punishment. This is unjust and unfair.

Legal Daily: Mental health legal guardians must be held accountable
We still lack statistics concerning guardians of the mentally ill who fall short of their responsibilities in cases involving assault. Some mental patients are even without a guardian. Therefore, it is essential to make sure the mentally ill have designated guardians and those guardians fulfill their duties.

Background

Statistics:
According to statistics from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 million people suffer from severe mental disorders in China, while psychiatric hospitals are only able to accommodate a total 228,000 patients as of 2010. In the absence of available accommodation and treatment, many of the country’s mentally ill are kept locked in their homes or restrained on beds.
Related law - Article 18, Criminal Law:

If a mental patient, at the time when he is unable to recognize or control his own act, causes a dangerous result, and such a circumstance is confirmed subject to legal procedures, he shall not bear criminal responsibility, but his family members or guardian shall be ordered to keep him strictly and arrange for his medical treatment and, when necessary, he shall be forced into medical treatment by the government.

A mental patient who has an intermittent nature shall bear criminal responsibility if he commits a crime at the time when he is in a normal mental state.

A mental patient who does not lose completely the ability to recognize or control his own act shall bear criminal responsibility but may be sentenced lightly or mitigatively if he commits a crime.

News  Vocab

暴力倾向 bàolì qīngxiàng tendency toward violence

Example:

张文秀检察官表示，“辖区派出所建立重点人员管理、备案机制，及时发现精神病人的暴力倾向，进而向其家属或相关部门提出收治建议。”（Source: 新华网）

Prosecutor Zhang Wenxiu said, "Police stations should allocate key personnel and establish a record system in order to promptly identify those mentally ill with tendencies toward violence. This way they can provide suggestions to families or relevant departments seeking treatment for those in need."

Web editor: yangruoyu@globaltimes.com.cn