Comments for Strengthening National Responsibility for Patients with Severe Mental Illness

The mental health care system in Korea employs measures such as involuntary hospitalization and outpatient treatment orders for patients with severe mental illness. However, involuntary hospitalization places the burden of treatment and management entirely on families, while outpatient treatment orders are often ineffective. This study proposes two approaches to strengthen national responsibility for these patients. First, a judicial hospitalization system is recommended to protect patient rights and ensure fair hospitalization and treatment. This system would provide appropriate care for patients while reducing the caregiving burden on families. Second, a nationally-centered integrated management system is proposed to connect medical institutions with community mental health agencies, for the integrated management of patients with severe mental illness. This system would ensure treatment continuity and enable efficient rehabilitation management. These proposals aim to create a foundation for patients with severe mental illness to reintegrate smoothly into society within a national management framework.