In 2016, the Chinese government instituted a policy that provides a financial subsidy to encourage family involvement in the care of family members with serious mental illness. The policy is designed to prevent violent behaviors of persons with serious mental illness and to promote community safety. The reward, mainly a living allowance for the family, is delivered monthly on the condition of zero crimes or legal offenses committed by the person with mental illness. If executed properly, the policy has the potential to substantially improve the well-being of persons with serious mental illness and their family caregivers. However, during the process of implementation, the policy may also lead to social stigma and violation of basic human rights of persons with serious mental illness, and the authors propose measures to prevent such unintended consequences. Outcomes of China's new policy may encourage other countries to undertake similar initiatives.
Keywords: Community mental health services; Family support systems; Public health; Public policy issues.