Regulations of Suzhou Municipality on Mental Health

Chapter I General Provisions Article 1 In order to develop mental health undertakings, standardize mental health services, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of patients with mental disorders, and promote the mental health of the whole people, these Regulations are formulated in accordance with the Mental Health Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) and other relevant laws and regulations, combined with the actual situation of this Municipality. Article 2 These Regulations shall apply to the construction of mental health service system, the promotion of mental health of the whole people, the prevention and treatment of mental disorders, the rehabilitation of patients with mental disorders and other activities within the administrative area of this Municipality. Article 3 The mental health work in this Municipality adheres to the principles of giving priority to prevention, combining prevention with treatment, extensive coverage, key intervention and management according to law, and establishes a working mechanism of government-led, departmental cooperation and social participation. Article 4 Protect the personal dignity, personal property safety and personal privacy of patients with mental disorders according to law. The whole society should respect, understand and care for patients with mental disorders.

No unit or individual may discriminate, insult or abuse patients with mental disorders.

The legitimate rights and interests of patients with mental disorders in education, labor, medical care and material assistance given by the state and society are protected by law. For patients with stable condition, they shall not infringe upon their legitimate rights and interests such as schooling and employment on the grounds of mental disorder. Article 5 Guardians of patients with mental disorders shall perform their guardianship duties and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of patients with mental disorders.

Domestic violence against mental patients and abandonment of mental patients are prohibited. Article 6 The whole society should respect mental health workers. The personal dignity and personal safety of mental health practitioners are inviolable, and performing their duties according to law is protected by law. Article 7 Municipal and county-level city (district) people's governments shall exercise unified leadership over mental health work within their respective administrative areas, incorporate mental health work into the national economic and social development plan, establish and improve the mental health service system, prepare the mental health development plan, and establish and improve the coordination mechanism, work responsibility system and assessment and supervision mechanism for mental health work.

Town People's governments and subdistrict offices shall organize and carry out the work of preventing mental disorders and promoting the rehabilitation of patients with mental disorders, establish a comprehensive mental health management team, guide villagers' committees and residents' committees to establish a caring and helping team in accordance with regulations, carry out daily screening and registration of patients with severe mental disorders, and do a good job in related services and management.

The people's governments at all levels in this Municipality shall, according to the level of economic and social development and the needs of mental health work, establish a guarantee mechanism for mental health work and include the funds for mental health work in the financial budget at the corresponding level. Article 8 The administrative department of health is the administrative department in charge of mental health work, responsible for organizing the preparation and implementation of mental health work plans, and supervising and managing mental health work.

The education department is responsible for bringing mental health education into school education and teaching activities, guiding and urging all kinds of schools to carry out mental health education, and ensuring the right of school-age children and adolescents with mental disorders to receive compulsory education.

The public security organ is responsible for emergency treatment of patients with mental disorders who endanger public safety, the safety of others or their own behavior, and do a good job in daily management according to the responsibilities of the department, and urge guardians to perform their daily guardianship responsibilities.

The civil affairs department is responsible for providing social assistance and welfare protection to eligible patients with mental disorders, and carrying out community rehabilitation services in conjunction with health, public security, finance, human resources and social security, disabled persons' federations and other departments and organizations.

Women's federations participate in the formulation and implementation of mental health policies on behalf of women, carry out publicity and education on women's mental health, and provide relevant consultation and rights protection services.

The Federation of Disabled Persons assists in the development of mental health rehabilitation services, reflects the demands of people with mental disorders, and safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of people with mental disorders.

Development and reform, finance, judicial administration, human resources and social security, medical security, transportation, culture, radio and television, tourism, veterans affairs, emergency management, administrative examination and approval, market supervision, sports, letters and visits and other departments. Should be in accordance with their respective responsibilities, do a good job in mental health related work. Article 9 The people's governments at all levels in this Municipality and their relevant departments shall carry out publicity and education on mental health, encourage and support various groups and social organizations to popularize mental health knowledge, improve the public's cognitive and preventive abilities on mental disorders, and cultivate self-esteem, self-confidence, rationality, peace and positive social mentality.

The news media should carry out public welfare propaganda of mental health and mental health knowledge, and create a public opinion environment in which the whole society respects, understands and cares for patients with mental disorders. Tenth city, county-level city (District) people's governments and relevant departments should take measures to encourage and support social organizations and individuals to carry out voluntary mental health services, donate mental health undertakings, and build mental health public facilities.

Units and individuals who have made outstanding contributions in mental health work shall be commended and rewarded by the municipal and county-level city (District) people's governments in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state and province. Chapter II Mental Health Service System Article 11 This Municipality shall establish and improve a mental health service system with mental health specialized medical institutions and mental health prevention and control technical management institutions as the main body, psychiatric outpatient service or psychological outpatient service as the auxiliary, and community health service institutions, community rehabilitation institutions, foster care service institutions and psychological consultation institutions as the support.