686: Partnerships and training

The 686 program explores treatment management models for severe psychological diseases that integrate hospital service with community based local delivery. This project is demonstrating that locally developed, culturally appropriate community mental health services can be a humane, effective form of treatment.

Since 2004, AAMH has been the principal Australian partner in the 686 project, working with the China Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the Chinese Ministry of Health and the Peking University Institute of Mental Health.  Partners provide technical support for the program, including program design, training, project monitoring and evaluation plans, and speaking at annual national meetings.

Under the 686 program, a tripartite training program involving AAMH, Peking University Institute of Mental Health and the Chinese University of Hong Kong develops the capacity of the mental health workforce throughout China.  This ongoing training program continues to have a positive impact on human resource development across China.

686: Background

The name 686 originally came from the amount of initial funding invested in the project by the Government of China.

Following the SARS epidemic in 2003, China recognised the importance of rebuilding its public health system and this was the impetus to develop in particular its community health sector.

In Sept 2004, mental health was included as the only non-infectious disease program into the national public health programs. In line with China’s public health agenda, community mental health system development was given high priority, leading to the 686 project.

After a global search, the agreed national community service delivery model chosen for China was the Victorian model of patient case management, using multidisciplinary teams.