Wu Guangqiang

    MY concern for the mentally ill was first sparked after I saw something particularly harrowing on TV.

    On the afternoon of Feb. 21 this year, in front of a hospital in Heyuan City, Guangdong, a schizophrenic man was seen holding a knife against his wife’s throat. It turned out that his wife was taking him to the hospital for treatment when he turned on her.

    On May 23, 2010, a psychopath at Honghua Village, Liujiang County, Guangxi, brandished a knife, hacking at passers-by. Villagers ran for safety, but one centenarian lady was too slow and was killed. This was the second such incident in the same city in the same month. In the other tragedy, three innocent bystanders were killed and their murderer was then himself killed in an act of self-defense.

    Inspired by these two cases, I made a search online, and, to my shock, I found numerous reports of casualties caused by the mentally ill across the country. An additional tragedy is that many of these people, instead of receiving psychiatric help, have probably been mistaken for regular criminals, and tried and executed as such.

    Without updated statistics, I have to use some old figures to illustrate the gravity of the situation. From 1984 to l996, in Beijing alone, about 82 percent of people who were convicted of violent crimes had been under psychiatric treatment. Statistics from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention show, in early 2009, more than 16 million people suffered from serious mental disorders and the majority had not received any medical aid.

    The problem is just as serious in Shenzhen. A recent survey shows over 20 percent of the residents aged 18 or above suffer from mental illnesses of varying degrees, 2.48 times the result of the survey conducted in 1996. Here are some noteworthy facts: Mental illness is more likely to afflict people without a hukou (permanent residency permit) than those with one, is more common among women than men, and among better educated youth than those less educated.

    More alarming is that the rate in China has been on a steady rise, having climbed from 3.2 percent in the 1970s to 15.56 percent in the 1990s. The increasing tension of modern life and cut-throat competition are seriously threatening the mental well-being of the populace. It is not just alarmist talk that everyone is a potential mental patient, if the issue is not given due attention.

    Shenzhen’s rate of mental illness is above the national average. It is not such a stretch to link this with the fact that it is a city of migrants. Throughout history, migrant cities have always been characterized by a sense of displacement and intense competition, bringing about a slew of problems such as social isolation and depression.

    This problem is a societal time-bomb that must be defused with urgency and sensitivity. Not only is it a heavy burden for families who have a member afflicted by mental illness, but there is the public menace of insane individuals causing harm.

    China is far behind most of the world in terms of taking care of the mentally ill. The first Mental Health Law was introduced in France in 1838. China has published the 10th draft of its own Mental Health Law, but it is still underdeveloped, though Chen Zhu, the minister of health, said during this year’s “two sessions” that he hoped this law would be passed this year.

    Such a law is absolutely necessary, because without it, mental patients can’t enjoy their lawful rights, including protection against prejudice, medical treatment and employment. On average, of the total expenditure on health care in rich western countries, 20 percent goes to mental health care, while in China the figure is 1 percent. As for the ratio of psychiatrists to patients in China, it is negligible.

    As a pioneering city, Shenzhen should take the initiative in taking better care of the mentally ill. First of all, before the adoption of the state Mental Health Law, Shenzhen should draft regulations on the issue, offering safeguards for patients. The municipal government should work out policies and action programs in relation to funding, organization, prevention, therapy, and psychological consultation.

    The measure of a society is how it treats its most disadvantaged people.

    (The author is an English tutor and a freelance writer. He can be reached at jw368@163.com.)