Officials in Taiwan are reviewing the efficacy of policies on the supervision and support of mental health patients. On Wednesday, Taiwan's legislature, health and justice ministries, and police force met to discuss how to minimize the safety risks associated with people with mental illnesses.
This meeting comes after an incident in Pingtung County in which a man with schizophrenia attacked a store clerk, possibly causing her to permanently lose vision in one eye.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung says that Taiwan has already made plans to build more emergency care centers for mental health patients and implement better home-care operations. The health ministry also intends to build specialized hospital wards for supervising violent mental health patients. In addition, community mental health centers will strive to regulate patients' medication and could use longer-lasting medications.
Chen says the health ministry will also improve the system for managing mandatory hospitalization for mental health patients who are a danger to themselves or others. The current system relies on a committee of social workers, psychologists, and patient representatives. With the new reforms, a judge will now also be present for these committee meetings.