Beijing police said that a special team will be founded in April to deal with mental patients who violate public orders or cause accidents.

There are about 150 thousand people suffering from severe mental illnesses in Beijing, and the number of people suffering from depression is 500 thousand, about 3.31% of the total population, particularly among women, children, college students and elders. In May and June, local police will collect the information of mental patients in order to exercise better control over these people. A rating system to confirm the risk of mental patients will be applied during the 2008 Olympic Games, based on the information collected.

New regulations on giving compulsory treatment to mental patients will become effective in May if it is approved by the municipal Division of Health and Division of Civil Affairs, and the police officers of all the communities in Beijing will receive training on the new regulations.

(Chinanews.cn April 5, 2007)