Resurgence of Coerced Psychiatry in China: A Tool for Silencing Dissent

Recent investigations spotlight the renewed use of involuntary psychiatric detention in China, highlighting the harrowing experiences of activists and ordinary citizens silenced for their dissenting views. Reports indicate alarming incidents of individuals being subjected to forced treatment under the guise of mental health concerns, drawing criticism from human rights advocates and raising questions about the integrity of the country's mental health laws.

In a troubling resurgence, China has seen an alarming increase in the forced hospitalization of individuals protesting against government actions. Numerous cases, documented by the BBC, reveal that dissenters and "trouble-makers" are being subjected to psychiatric treatment without their consent, raising significant human rights concerns.

Zhang Junjie, who protested China's harsh lockdown measures, recounts his harrowing experience of being forcibly hospitalized at the hands of the very authorities he sought to challenge. "After my protest, I was driven to a hospital disguised as a Covid testing center, and what followed was a terrifying ordeal," he recalled. For 12 days, he was restrained, beaten, and convinced he suffered from schizophrenia because of his political stance.

Despite laws aimed at protecting the rights of psychiatric patients, a surge in unconsented hospitalizations has alarmed observers, including legal experts. Huang Xuetao, a leading Chinese lawyer involved in drafting the country's Mental Health Law, notes that the breakdown of civil society has allowed such abuses to flourish unchecked. This loophole effectively enables authorities to detain dissenters and suppress their voice under the guise of mental illness.

The problem is not isolated to Junjie. Accounts from at least 59 other individuals highlight a pervasive practice — individuals often labeled "troublemakers" by the police are forcibly treated, given anti-psychotic drugs, and subjected to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Activist Jie Lijian, who faced a similar fate after protesting for better labor conditions, vividly describes his own experience with ECT, likening it to torture.

Moreover, an undercover investigation by the BBC revealed complicity among medical professionals who confirm the police’s influence over psychiatric admissions. In one response, a doctor acknowledged the existence of "troublemaker" admissions orchestrated by law enforcement authorities.

This institutional abuse of psychiatry casts a long shadow over China's supposed reforms in mental health care. While the government claims to uphold rights through multiple laws and regulations, evidence suggests a systemic failure to prevent misuse and ensure proper treatment. Activists, like Song Zaimin, have specifically noted the disturbing correlation between their political beliefs and entries in medical records.

Yet, victims continue to seek justice. Mr. Li, another undocumented victim of this system, is fighting against a psychiatric diagnosis that could impact his future freedom. His struggles highlight the grim reality for many individuals caught in the web of political oppression disguised as mental health care.

The rising tide of narratives from those who have been silenced underscores growing concerns, especially with figures like vlogger Li Yixue, who faced hospitalization after accusing police officers of sexual assault. Such cases signal a deepening crisis of human rights within China, intensifying scrutiny on its political and legal systems.

This ongoing discourse about mental health practices and violations in China beckons international attention. In light of the country's commitment to reform, the reality on the ground portrays a vastly different picture; one that continues to evolve amid rising authoritarianism and curtailed freedoms.