Mental Health Law and development of mental health program in Taiwan

The legislation of the Mental Health Law which came into effect on 7 December 1990 was the most important event among a series of innovatory measures and actions taken by the government during the 1980s and the years that followed to improve the nation's mental health program. The law consists of 52 articles classified into seven chapters. The impact of the law on the development of mental health program has been significant in many aspects. There are, however, issues and controversies in this new law which need continuous monitoring as the mental health program progresses.