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'Possessed' child locked up in home of parents for 30 years

A near 40 year old man has been freed in China after he was locked up by his parents for decades because they feared he had been possessed.

The South China Morning Post reports mental health experts have finally intervened after images emerged of the unnamed 39 year old imprisoned behind bars in his home in Beihai, Guangxi.

A video circulated online, and a still image released by authorities reveal a thin and pale man living a dark and damp life inside his confines.

According to kankannews.com, the man’s parents locked him up after he ran away at age six and began behaving strangely.


They claimed he had been taken to a house that was being exorcised during the journey, returning with abnormal behaviour.

The man’s mother, Li Lianying, told the site she and her husband had decided to lock him away after he began roaming local streets and taking food from neighbours.

She said her son’s needs had been taken care of but the family had no option but to imprison him. He has since drawn the attention of a nearby psychiatric hospital.

Images of the man staring through bars in his makeshift prison recently circulated online in China. Photo: Handout
Images of the man staring through bars in his makeshift prison recently circulated online in China. Photo: Handout

Mental health has long been a troubled area in China.

The fallout of the country’s cultural revolution which saw the current communist government declare mental illness a middle class delusion led to many years of non-existent help.

Mental health services have since made a return in China, however, stories of desperate families imprisoning sick relatives remain too common.

If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline 13 11 14, Mensline 1300 789 978, or Kids Helpline 1800 551 800