China Focus: Informing on mentally ill raises moral, legal questions

China's online community is unsure what to make of a new local government policy, which encourages the public to report on individuals they suspect to be suffering from mental illness.

Shuangliu District Health Department in Chengdu City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, shared the policy with its followers on Sina Weibo on July 14, promising whistle-blowers a 50-yuan (7.5 U.S. dollars) reward, and an extra 300 yuan if the disorder is confirmed.

In addition to the policy, a list of 11 "problems" was also released, which the health department hoped could assist would-be citizen doctors when judging the mental stability of individuals.

The list was met with uproar, humor and confusion. While some took the initiative with a pinch of salt, calling it "hilarious," others were quick to attack the government for over simplifying a serious issue.

The listed symptoms included, "too suspicious; too talkative; too quiet; too slow; lying in bed all day long; refusing to go to school or work with no reason."

Weibo user "huangyulan" said, "looking at the criteria, I have begun to doubt my own state of mind." Another user, "kenshushaonvderichang," called the policy discriminatory.

There were also voices of support. "It is better to discover and treat mental problems as soon as possible, as this could help prevent the mentally ill from hurting others," wrote "weiboshunjian" on Weibo.

In reply to Xinhua, Shuangliu publicity department said it was concerned that people with undiagnosed mental health issues could be a risk to themselves and others.

The policy was driven by a need to ensure early identification, so that psychiatric patients are able to receive the care and support they need, according to the reply.

Xinhua reporters also found that the 11 problems corresponded to National Health and Family Planning Commission standards. Moreover, similar standards were adopted by Shanghai health authority in 2012.

Xu Yi, a neurologist with the First Hospital of Zhejiang Province, was concerned with the policy. He said diagnosis should be left to professionals.

People that live with mental illness usually do have some of the listed behaviors, but we should not label people as "ill" just because they exhibit certain behavior, he said.

Xia Xueluan, professor of sociology at Peking University, agreed that the list was too vague. He questioned the moral and legal principles behind encouraging lay-people to report on suspected mentally ill individuals.

Chen Guanwen, a lawyer in Shandong Province, said that while the intentions behind the policy were admirable it was not fair on those it targeted.

On question-and-answer forum Zhihu.com, one user posited that offering these rewards would further ostracize mental health patients.

Mental health experts are wary of the policy and have advised governments to improve the social assistance system, so that those with mental health issues can get professional help.

Shi Shangjin, vice head of the Fourth People's Hospital of Ziyang City in Sichuan Province, said that around 0.7 percent of the Chinese population suffer from some form of mental illness.

Many psychiatric hospitals and local governments are understaffed and lack funding, Shi said, suggesting that these areas be improved.

Chen Guanwen said that psychiatric care calls for better coordination of departments including public security, civil affairs, health and disabled federations. Endi