4 Treatment in local communities

  A person who is given a disposition of outpatient treatment or is allowed discharge from the hospital (disposition to allow the person discharge from the hospital and have him/her receive outpatient treatment) shall, for three years in principle, go to a designated medical institution for outpatient treatment (meaning institutions designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, selected from hospitals and clinics that meet criteria stipulated by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) to receive outpatient treatment and be subject to mental health supervision by probation offices. Mental health supervision aims to ensure continued medical care for persons in question by supervising their hospital visits and living conditions through direct interviews and reports from related organizations, and giving them necessary guidance. In addition to continued medical care, appropriate utilization of other supports for mentally disabled persons (support provided by prefectures and municipalities based on the Act for Supporting Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities) is important so that they can live a stable life in local communities. Therefore, probation offices prepare treatment plans through talks with designated medical institutions for outpatient treatment and prefectures and municipalities, trying to maintain close relationships between related organizations for effective implementation of medical care, mental health supervision, and assistance incorporated in the plans.
  The number of cases received for mental health supervision by probation offices in 2007 was 148 (excluding the cases received by transfer), and 73 of them were through the disposition of discharge from the hospital (excluding the cases received by transfer) (Source: Annual Report of Statistics on Rehabilitation).
  Termination of treatment (excluding expiration of term) and (re-)hospitalization to designated medical institutions for hospitalization is determined through hearings at courts. In 2007, 17 dispositions on the termination of medical care and one disposition on re-hospitalization were made (Source: Annual Report of Statistics on Rehabilitation).