In recent years, a troubling pattern has emerged in China: the forced hospitalization of dissidents under the pretense of mental health care. Young activist Zhang Junjie, after protesting against the government's stringent lockdown measures, found himself incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital, where he faced restraint, beatings, and involuntary medication. His experience is shared by many others who have criticized government policies or participated in protests, indicating a resurgence of state-sanctioned psychiatric repression.
Zhang's ordeal began shortly after he turned 18, coinciding with his public demonstration against harsh COVID-19 protocols. Identified by university staff, he was taken by the police to what he believed was a testing site, only to discover he was being committed to a psychiatric hospital. “They tied me to a bed,” he recalls, emphasizing the terror of being labeled mentally ill for his political views. After a 12-day stint, he was forced to undergo treatment without consent and given antipsychotic medications that negatively impacted his mental state.
This systematic approach to silencing dissenters is not isolated. The BBC investigation confirmed similar experiences quantified through dozens of testimonies, demonstrating a chilling pattern of involuntary detention justified by arbitrary mental health assessments—a practice that contradicts China's own 2013 Mental Health Law designed to protect against such abuses.
Lawyer Huang Xuetao, involved in drafting mental health legislation, expresses concern over the increase in wrongful commitments, attributing the issue to a weakening civil society and lack of accountability. Activists report that being labeled a “troublemaker” can lead to forced psychiatric evaluations at the behest of police, with treatments that include antipsychotic drugs and even electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
The narrative of Jie Lijian, another dissident, parallels Zhang's. After protesting for better labor conditions, he was subjected to extensive police interrogation before being taken to a psychiatric facility where medication and ECT were administered against his will. Lijian describes the experience as a harrowing violation of his rights and a painful reminder of the lengths to which authorities will go to silence opposition.
Moreover, the investigation highlights that medical professionals are complicit in this system, with various doctors acknowledging the existence of “troublemaker” classifications used to justify involuntary admissions. This troubling trend reflects a broader societal concern regarding the suppression of dissent and the manipulation of mental health provisions to control political criticism.
Despite reforms introduced in recent years, forced hospitalizations have risen in frequency, leading to calls for accountability and protective measures. Victims like “Mr. Li,” who attempted to legally challenge his wrongful detainment, illustrate the challenges faced by those seeking justice within a flawed system.
As attention grows around the issues faced by prominent figures like vlogger Li Yixue, who was recently reported to be under surveillance after alleging police misconduct, it becomes increasingly urgent to speak out against these violations. The investigations reveal not only a concerning intersection of politics and psychiatry in China but also the resilience of individuals fighting back against a system designed to silence them.
Therefore, as the global community takes stock of human rights in China, the imperative to combat this abuse of power becomes ever more evident, with advocates continuing to seek transparency and justice for those wrongfully treated under the guise of mental health care.
Zhang's ordeal began shortly after he turned 18, coinciding with his public demonstration against harsh COVID-19 protocols. Identified by university staff, he was taken by the police to what he believed was a testing site, only to discover he was being committed to a psychiatric hospital. “They tied me to a bed,” he recalls, emphasizing the terror of being labeled mentally ill for his political views. After a 12-day stint, he was forced to undergo treatment without consent and given antipsychotic medications that negatively impacted his mental state.
This systematic approach to silencing dissenters is not isolated. The BBC investigation confirmed similar experiences quantified through dozens of testimonies, demonstrating a chilling pattern of involuntary detention justified by arbitrary mental health assessments—a practice that contradicts China's own 2013 Mental Health Law designed to protect against such abuses.
Lawyer Huang Xuetao, involved in drafting mental health legislation, expresses concern over the increase in wrongful commitments, attributing the issue to a weakening civil society and lack of accountability. Activists report that being labeled a “troublemaker” can lead to forced psychiatric evaluations at the behest of police, with treatments that include antipsychotic drugs and even electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
The narrative of Jie Lijian, another dissident, parallels Zhang's. After protesting for better labor conditions, he was subjected to extensive police interrogation before being taken to a psychiatric facility where medication and ECT were administered against his will. Lijian describes the experience as a harrowing violation of his rights and a painful reminder of the lengths to which authorities will go to silence opposition.
Moreover, the investigation highlights that medical professionals are complicit in this system, with various doctors acknowledging the existence of “troublemaker” classifications used to justify involuntary admissions. This troubling trend reflects a broader societal concern regarding the suppression of dissent and the manipulation of mental health provisions to control political criticism.
Despite reforms introduced in recent years, forced hospitalizations have risen in frequency, leading to calls for accountability and protective measures. Victims like “Mr. Li,” who attempted to legally challenge his wrongful detainment, illustrate the challenges faced by those seeking justice within a flawed system.
As attention grows around the issues faced by prominent figures like vlogger Li Yixue, who was recently reported to be under surveillance after alleging police misconduct, it becomes increasingly urgent to speak out against these violations. The investigations reveal not only a concerning intersection of politics and psychiatry in China but also the resilience of individuals fighting back against a system designed to silence them.
Therefore, as the global community takes stock of human rights in China, the imperative to combat this abuse of power becomes ever more evident, with advocates continuing to seek transparency and justice for those wrongfully treated under the guise of mental health care.
