Mental Health Law and development of mental health program in Taiwan

The legislation of the Mental Health Law which came into effect on 7 Decemb er 1990 uas the most important event among a series of innovatory measures and actions taken by the government during the 1980s and the years that fol lowed to improve the nation's mental health program. The lau consists of 52 articles classified into seven chapters. The impact of the law on the: dev elopment of mental health program has been significant icl many aspects. Th ere are, however, issues and controversies in this new law which need conti nuous monitoring as the mental health program progresses.