Hong Kong NGO concerned at plan for tighter curbs on some psychiatric patients who seek hospital treatment
Hong Kong Free Press
A Hong Kong advocacy group has voiced concern at a plan to allow the detention of some psychiatric patients who voluntarily seek hospital treatment, and monitor them after release under a “conditional discharge” system, saying it may discourage people from seeking help.
The proposal follows a mall stabbing in early June which killed two women. Local media reported that the suspect has a psychiatric record.
Crystal Yuen, a social worker with the Society for Community Organization (SoCO), said the move might further discourage people from voluntarily entering hospital for psychiatric treatment.
“It is always difficult for patients to get ready for hospitalisation. If they might be faced with a conditional discharge, fewer will be admitted to hospital voluntarily, ” Yuen told HKFP on the phone on Friday.
Currently, only patients under compulsory detention in hospitals and who have a “criminal violence” record or “disposition to commit criminal violence” can be subject to a conditional discharge.
This means they should live at a specific address, visit doctors regularly, take medication and accept follow-up attention from social workers. Anyone who violates the conditions will be called back to hospital.
The government is planning to extend compulsory detention for psychiatric patients found to have violent tendencies even if they have chosen to seek hospital treatment. They will also be closely monitored after release under the “conditional discharge” scheme.
The proposal to extend the conditional discharge system came after the Advisory Committee on Mental Health held several meetings to review policies following the mass tragedy.
Libby Lee, undersecretary for health, told reporters on Thursday about the proposal, after attending a meeting of the Advisory Committee.
“While the public might worry that the move would hinder personal freedom, authorities have to make a balance between patients’ health, rights and safety, ” Lee said.
Yuen, who is also a member of the Advisory Committee, said she was worried that the move “would bring more drawbacks than benefits.”
“The move is worrying. [The authorities] should clarify how to define ‘disposition to commit criminal violence’. Is it solely based on medics’ assessment? Or could families and social workers take part to define whether the patient has a violent tendency?” Yuen said.
She said that based on her working experience of over 10 years, most patients who voluntarily seek hospital treatment are not violent but may have a suicidal tendency which needs to be carefully looked after.
Limited resources
The government proposed a list of 10 “enhanced measures” last month to support people with mental health needs in the wake of the stabbings.
For patients in mental recovery with a history of severe mental disorders, the Hospital Authority said it would aim to optimise the ratio of case managers to patients with severe mental illness to no higher than 1:40. Case managers could include psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists or social workers.
It also plans to ease a shortage of psychiatrists.
Yuen said Hong Kong should focus on the city’s limited resources for psychiatric patients. “That should be the root of the problem. We should not add to the negative influences affecting those who voluntarily seek treatment at hospitals.”
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