Abstract: By taking the example of patient mutual helping team organized in a mental health centre in Shanghai, this thesis explores the influence of social skills training on the psychiatric patients’ life quality. The results after comparing the WHOQOL & SANS scales between the experimental group and the control group shows that, the individual interpersonal skills and quality of life have increased dramatically in experimental group, and the two indicators are better than those of the control group. Hence, the thesis suggests that: firstly, the chronic mental patients need longterm social skills training; secondly, the treatment should be cooperated with social workers, family members and medical staff; thirdly, the patients should practice these skills in the social environment; and lastly, we should strengthen professional competence of mental health social workers and promote the evidencebased research.

Key words: social work, social skills training, patients with chronic schizophrenia, life quality