Problems & Mental Health Act from

정신보건의 역사적 변화선상에서 본 우리나라 정신보건법의 문제와 개선안

Having gone through socioeconomic changes from an agricultural to a post-industrial society, mental health system accordingly has been changed. In Korea where the socioeconomic change has been so rapid, the mental health system and law have been behind the socioeconomic system. Post-industrial society needs more humanized and advanced mental health system, however, Korean mental health law reflects ideology of Korean society in industrial age. This paper attempts to assess the significance Korea's Mental Health Law against the backdrop of socioeconomic changes. A substantial part of the report is devoted to identifying discrepancies between Korea's Mental Health Law and the perspectives of post-industrial ideology and areas for improvement. Improvement in mental health law should take place in line with the changes occurring in socioeconomic environments, the social concept of family, and the public awareness of human rights. Korea's mental health law should be changed in a way to improve hospitalization procedure for people with mental illness, promote the opening of mental health facilities and improve the quality of the lives of the mentally ill. Further changes are deemed necessary in the public and media view of mental illness. Also, the national budget will have to be increased with a view to raise the social rights of those with mental illness to receive quality rehabilitation services.