On 11 October 2021, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) held the first meeting of a study group for the creation of a Mental Health Medical Welfare System that enables people to live in the community with a sense of security (referred to as the "study group").

The study group was set up based on the report released in March 2021 by the Study Panel on the creation of a Comprehensive Community Care System that also responds to mental disabilities, which outlined the basic ideas and components for creating such a system."  The study group will consider: how the community mental health medical welfare system must be designed in preparation for the review, among others, of the medical plan, which will expire at the end of 2023; how the system should help persons with mental disabilities in case they need hospitalization; and how patients should be supported in their aftercare according to their preferences.

In short, the study group will focus on the following three points:

(1) The establishment of a comprehensive community care system that responds to mental disabilities
(2) A community mental health medical welfare system
(3) Initiatives that support inpatients' decision-making and advocate their rights.

The first meeting discussed how to proceed with these points.

For more information, please visit the website below.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_21220.html