An unprecedented special survey which gives confidentiality to
interviewees and does not allow the presence of relatives or
journalists was launched Wednesday.
This is the first time China has probed into its citizen's mental
world, taking advantage of the joint efforts of the World Health Organization
of the United Nations and the Ministry of Public Health of
China.
In
Beijing and Shanghai, 200 interviewers identified with name plates
Wednesday began visiting the first of 5,500 households.
Chinese citizens randomly chosen were given a fashion-magazine
styled questionnaire which contained questions about insomnia,
ill-temper and intimacies like sex inclination. Some interviews up
to 3 hours.
Relatives of the interviewees were asked to leave as the
interviewer and interviewee proceeded with their tete-a-tete,
something quite new for the gregarious Chinese people.
"It is a big step for China to take so much effort to protect
privacy." said an interviewer with the Beijing-based research
center which was reluctant to reveal its name.
The survey is expected to be completed in two months.
Interviewers include social workers, college students and retired
people, according to the practices of the WHO.
"It is hugely significant for the world as China has one fifth of
the world's population." Prof. Huang Yueqin of Beijing University
said.
The ongoing survey is part of the WHO's 2001 World Health
Survey.
"This is the first time that China has looked at the social burden
caused by mental health problems." Prof. Xu Yifeng of Shanghai
Mental Health Care Center told Xinhua. "It will provide fundamental
information for both policy-making and basic mental health
work."
In
the past people with mental health problems have been discriminated
against. However, psychiatric treatment is now carried out across
the country, and even in jails.
"I've heard nothing about the survey, but it sounds quite natural
to me," said Jiang Ping, a director of a neighborhood committee in
Beijing. "People want to be happy as they eat and dress
better."
The increase in mental health problems is drawing the attention of
Chinese government. The Ministry of Public Health said last month
that 16 million Chinese citizens suffer from mental health problems
with the incidence rising to 17.4 percent.
More competitiveness and the collapse of traditional social
relationships due to drastic social changes are blamed for the
increasing mental health problems.
Many sufferers do not get medical support because of insufficient
funds, equipment, professional workers and information.
Chinese president Jiang Zemin wrote a letter in March to Dr. Gro Harlem
Brundtland, general director of WHO, stressing China's
determination to create a friendly society for the mentally
ill.
Beijing and Shanghai have established efficient supervision
networks for the mentally ill and were selected as the survey
cities.
(Xinhua News
Agency December 6, 2001)