Fearing mental problems could plague more people if negligence and
discrimination persist, China now plans to enhance public
understanding of the illnesses and medical services.
Health officials and psychiatric specialists held discussions
Thursday on a draft plan for the development of mental health
services in China.
The 10-year plan named depression, schizophrenia and dementia among
the elderly as the leading mental problems to be tackled.
The plan, which is waiting for endorsement of the
State Council, China's cabinet, also underlined children, the
elderly, women, and people who have experienced serious disasters
as the primary groups in need of mental health services.
Some 16 million out of the 1.3 billion Chinese people suffer from
serious mental disorders, according to Vice-Minister of Health Yin
Dakui.
In
addition, about 30 million children under the age 17 are plagued by
psychological and behavioral problems, and old-age mental problems
and alcohol and drug dependence are also emerging as health
problems, he said.
However, discrimination against mental disorder patients remains
strong in China largely due to a lack of understanding about mental
problems, which further deters prevention and treatment of the
illnesses, said psychiatric expert Yu Xin.
"Right now we need to educate people with correct information on
mental health," he said.
About 60 percent of urbanites and 40 percent of rural residents in
China are expected to have learned the elementary knowledge of
mental health by the year 2010, compared with the current 30
percent and 10 percent respectively.
With educational efforts, about 60 percent of the elderly and their
family members and caretakers should know something about old-age
dementia and depression, which will highly benefit prevention and
treatment, according to the plan.
Only 25 percent of people are able to tell what dementia is at
present, experts estimated.
Under the plan, treatment will be available to more patients of
depression and schizophrenia in ten years as medical and counseling
services will be greatly improved.
A
national program highlighting the role of the community in helping
1.22 million mental disorder patients to recover has been carried
out in areas with a population of 200 million, and will be expanded
to cover areas inhabited by 800 million people in the next
decade.
( November 2, 2001)