Censorship and Coercion: The Rising Use of Forced Psychiatric Hospitalization in China

A BBC investigation uncovers a resurgence of forced psychiatric hospitalizations in China targeting activists and protestors, revealing systemic abuses that contradict existing mental health laws.

 

Zhang Junjie, now a 19-year-old living in New Zealand, found himself at the center of a chilling case of government suppression after protesting against China's stringent lockdown measures. Within a week of participating in the demonstration outside his university, Zhang was involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital, falsely diagnosed with schizophrenia. This is just one example among many, leading to revelations about a troubling trend: the Chinese government appears to be using psychiatric institutions as a means to silence dissent.

During his confinement, Zhang reported being restrained, beaten, and coerced into taking anti-psychotic medication—a recurring pattern for individuals deemed "trouble-makers" by the authorities. Despite laws ostensibly designed to protect citizens from involuntary treatment and ensure that psychiatric admissions are voluntary, reports indicate a significant resurgence in such abuses.

Zhang's plight mirrors that of 59 others the BBC identified, all of whom suffered similar fates after protesting or challenging the Chinese government. Their experiences illustrate a grim reality: individuals can be diagnosed with mental health conditions for expressing political dissent. Huang Xuetao, a legal expert involved in drafting China's 2013 Mental Health Law, expressed concern over the existing societal checks and balances that have weakened, facilitating this sort of abuse.

Jie Lijian, another victim, recounted his harrowing experiences while being held for over 50 days following a protest for better pay. Like many others, he was forcibly administered medication that affected his cognitive functions and subjected to electroconvulsive therapy. His case, along with Zhang's, raises pressing questions about the intersection of healthcare, civil rights, and the state’s manipulation of psychiatric diagnoses to curtail dissent.

The BBC’s investigation included undercover inquiries into hospitals complicit in forced detentions. Several medical professionals confirmed the police's role in these admissions, suggesting a tacit understanding that mental health evaluations can be influenced by political considerations. This manipulation starkly undermines the integrity of psychiatric practice in China.

The reports have attracted attention and ignited discussions about the government's treatment of individuals challenging authority. Recent developments, particularly involving social media influencers like Li Yixue, who faced hospitalization after speaking out about police misconduct, indicate a disturbing trend of suppressing voices that threaten the regime’s narrative.

In response to these revelations, the Chinese government claims to have mechanisms in place to prevent such abuses. However, systemic issues within the legal and healthcare frameworks mean that victims, like Mr. Li, struggle to find justice against wrongful detainment. With court rejections prevalent and a significant number of cases unreported, it appears that the wheels of justice are heavily biased against those who dare to challenge the status quo.

As the narrative surrounding forced hospitalizations unfolds, international observers and human rights advocates remain vigilant regarding China's increasingly troubling approach to dissent, as the reality of censorship and coercion continues to rear its head in the realm of mental health care.