1. Strengthening role and capacity of Chinese Non State Actors towards rightful inclusion in the society of people with mental health conditions in four cities of China Associazione Italiana Amici di Raoul Follereau (AIFO)
Peking University Institute of Mental Health/the Sixth Hospital (PUIMH)
Solidarietà e Servizio (SoliS) Aid and Service (AS) Conferenza Permanente per la Salute Mentale nel Mondo (CoPerSaMM)

2. Mental Health Care in China General Context
16-17th million people with mental health conditions (1,2% of the Chinese population).
60% assisted by Ministry of Health; 40% by Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The current system to assist them is mainly private.
Not enough health structures and human resources to cover the needs.
10/25/14

3. General Context Problems
Majority of mental health services facilities are located in urban areas.
The mental health care is based on psychiatric hospitals.
Human resources have scarce or no professional competence about “community mental health".
10/25/14

4. New Chinese Mental Health Law:
Implementation starting from May 1, 2013.
Priorities: preventions, treatment and rehabilitation.
Principles: protect the lawful rights of those with mental health conditions (voluntary admission to psychiatric hospitals).
Stating that community care for mental health is cost containing.
10/25/14

5. New Chinese Mental Health Law: towards community
Villagers’ and residents’ committees: shall carry out mental health activities and provide assistance to the local Government’s work.
Family members: improve the awareness concerning mental illness prevention.
CSOs (NGOs) and media: encouraged to pay attention to mental health and prevention of mental health disorders.
10/25/14

6. New Chinese Mental Health Law: Rehabilitation
Community Mental Health Centres: shall provide rehabilitation training on mental health knowledge for patients and family members.
Family members: shall assist the patient to get rehabilitation training (Italian model: “fare assieme”, work together).
Government: shall increase financial investment in remote and rural areas.
10/25/14

7. AIFO’s mission and objectives
AIFO’s mission is to support cooperation which promotes self- development and social inclusion of persons affected with leprosy, persons with all kind of disability as well as marginalized groups, and carries out specific programs in social and health areas.
Through treatment of diseases and the support to primary health care and physical, social and mental rehabilitation of groups at social risk, AIFO wishes to promote inclusion, so that those who are “excluded” can become active citizens by reacquiring dignity and equality.
The general objective is to promote interventions in social and health domains against condition of underdevelopment, poverty, under- nutrition and marginalization that cause persistence and diffusion of conditions like leprosy and physical, mental and social disabilities.
Specific objectives are: promoting, supporting and coordinating community-based rehabilitation initiatives for and with persons with disabilities, with a special attention towards persons with disability due to leprosy and persons with mental illness; focusing on persons forced to live in conditions of extreme vulnerability and under-development, especially women and children, who are marginalized and face grave social risks.

8. Community mental health services
Community Mental Health Unit - CMHU: possibility to access community services at first choice overcoming the psychiatric hospital.
Residential Open Unit - ROU: assist people (no more than 20) for defined periods (6-12 months), with personalised treatment and rehabilitation programs in order to promote their social inclusion.
Both CMHU and ROU are organised inside the existing primary health care system or in autonomous structures closest to the place of life or job of the persons with mental disorders.
Direct participation of users/family members’ knowledge (know-how) in order to improve mental health outcomes because of their direct experience.
10/25/14

9. Training Practical Session

10. Training Practical session

11. Training course, City of Trieste, Italy

12. User working in the bar - Changchun psychiatric hospital

13. User working in Ha’rbin rehabilitation center

14. Workshop for clothes – Ha’rbin rehabilitation center

15. Plantation of herbal medicinal plants
Yanqing city

16. Project achievements Patient's feeling
Improved social skills
Raised self-confidence
Improved mental health status
Better relationship with family
Job perspectives

17. ROU patient’s and family members feeling
Mother: "After the opening of ROU, our life completely changed (...). I’m just scared for the future".
Resident: "Now I’m living in a ROU and the atmosphere is very warm. My life changed, I saw my mother smiling (...)".
Mother: "My daughter is living in a ROU, and I’m more relaxed, (...) I know that she lives in good conditions, and she is respected (...)".
10/25/14

18. CONTACTS IN CHINA 爱福协会 中国联系方式
AIFO China 爱福协会 中国
邮箱:
Telephone手机:
www. wholeheartedchina.com
Peking University Institute of Mental Health/Sixth Hospital (PUIMH)
北京大学精神卫生研究所/北京大学第六医院
邮箱:
Telephone 电话:
Aid and Service Association 仁爱协会
邮箱:
Telephone 手机:
10/25/14

19. THANK YOU!