4 Treatment within local communities

Those that have received the decision on a need for outpatient care or permission to be discharged from a hospital by a court then need to receive outpatient medical treatment at a designated outpatient care hospital (as designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare) for three years, in principle, and are placed under mental health supervision by rehabilitation coordinators for that period. Rehabilitation coordinators provide the persons concerned with the necessary guidance, etc. by supervising their hospital visits and living conditions in thus ensuring they continue to receive medical care while also maintain mutual cooperation with the relevant agencies in enabling assistance, etc. to be provided by prefectures/municipalities and welfare service business operators for persons with disabilities in accordance with the Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act (Act No. 123 of 2005) and thereby ensure it is appropriately utilized. The number of cases involving mental health supervision by probation offices (excluding cases received by transfer) in 2009 was 217 (166 of them were through a decision being made on permission to discharge them from a hospital) and that pending as of the end of the same year 465 (Source: Annual Report of Statistics on Rehabilitation).

Termination of treatment (medical care) excluding completion of the term, and re-hospitalization in a designated medical inpatient care institution are determined by a court through a hearing. In 2009, 51 decisions to terminate medical care and five decisions to re-hospitalize those concerned were made (Source: Annual Report of Judicial Statistics).