China

Australian Governor General greets Chinese Mental Health experts

February 25, 2009

Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC welcomed Madame Kong Lingzhi and Prof. Yu Xin to Government House on Thursday 19th February, 2009.

AAMH was honoured to facilitate a week long program for Madame Kong Lingzhi, Vice Director, Non Communicable Diseases, Department of Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, PRC and Prof. Yu Xin, Executive Director, Peking University Institute of Mental Health to Australia in February 2009. Their extensive program included an invitation to meet with HE Ms Quentin Bryce at Government House in Canberra.

China has made rapid and momentous reform in the delivery of mental health care particularly in the last five years. Specifically, the 686 project has led to the establishment of community-based mental health services which are now being expanded to more than 120 sites across China covering 200 million in population.

AAMH has been a principal partner of the Ministry of Health, PRC and Peking University Institute of Mental Health in facilitating the 686 project. The model of community mental health service delivery currently used in China draws directly on elements of the Victorian mental health care model.

AAMH facilitated meetings for Madame Kong and Prof. Yu with other key Canberra government officials from the Department of Health and Ageing and AusAID. They were also welcomed to the Chinese Embassy by Chinese Ambassador to Australia HE Mr Zhang Junsai.

During the visit to Melbourne, Madame Kong and Prof. Yu met with key leaders at Melbourne University, Myer Foundation, St. Vincent’s Health and the Victorian Department of Human Services.

Prof. Yu Xin also presented a public lecture about the history of mental health care in China at Melbourne University.