The government has taken a variety of measures to actualize the basic philosophy of the policy for "shifting medical treatment under hospitalization to regional medical treatment". The problems associated with mental disorders requiring long-term psychiatric treatment and reducing psychiatric beds have been discussed from various viewpoints. Although the transfer of psychiatric medical treatment to regional medical treatment is taking place, it is true that some large barriers exist. According to research on the actual situation in 1954, 1,300,000 psychiatric disorders were estimated, including 350,000 disabilities requiring hospitalization, and mental beds available increased up to a maximum of 350,000 with government subsidies. In 1987, mental bed availability was controlled according to the local healthcare program. As a result, periods of psychiatric hospitalization became prolonged due to factors including social prejudice and the inadequacy of rehabilitation centers; it was called "social hospitalization". Nevertheless, it is true that private psychiatric hospitals have successfully provided various psychiatric medical services in order for people with disabilities to be able to live in the community.
 The Program for Dissolution of Social Hospitalization of Psychiatric Disabilities in 2000 started in Osaka. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare started the Program for Hospital Discharge Promotion of Psychiatric Disabilities as a model program in 2003. This program was included in the Regional Life Support Program in Prefectural and City Governments, and expanded throughout Japan in 2006. The Regional Shift Support Special Action Program of Psychiatric Disabilities was started in 2008.
 The report of the "Symposium for Ideal Future Psychiatric Medical Welfare" was compiled in September 2009, and the target value was indicated there. Various measures were implemented in order to promote the basic philosophy for "shifting medical treatment under hospitalization to living in the community". In 2012, the Japan Psychiatric Hospitals Association, joined by the private psychiatric hospitals responsible for medical treatment under hospitalization, set forth their basic polity for "shifting medical treatment under hospitalization to regional medical treatment and medical care" as part of "Future Vision of Psychiatric Medical Treatment".
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