Stages of the 686 Program: Design and Implementation
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, the community mental health system was given the high priority which has resulted in this national project.
Initiated in September 2004 and financed by the MOH, the Mental Health Research Institute of Peking University/Mental Health Centre of China CDC has developed and is managing a national mental health program, the 686 program. The 686 program is exploring treatment management models for severe psychological diseases that integrate hospital service with community based local delivery. The program aims to establish a national management mechanism and network for community-based severe psychiatric diseases prevention and rehabilitation, and provide community service for patients.
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. Asia-Australia Mental Health is the principal Australian partner in the 686 project.
Since the 686 Program's inception, an Australian advisory group comprising AAMH and its partners (BeyondBlue, The Mental Illness Fellowship, DFAT, the Victorian and Commonwealth Departments of Health, among others) has been working with the China CDC, the MOH and the Mental Health Institute of Peking University to provide technical support for the program. This has included program design, training and developing a project evaluation plan, monitoring in the field and speaking at annual national program meetings.
Over the three years of co-operation, the Australian and Chinese partners have developed a model for successful collaboration, one based on mutual respect, technical expertise and a deep appreciation of cultural difference and its influences on all aspects of health system development.
Return to the 686 Program page.