Ninety percent of the 30 million people in China suffering from
depression fail to get proper treatment due to worries about
discrimination and a lack of professional psychiatrists, according
to the Chinese Psychiatrist Association (CPA).
But for the 10 percent that did receive medical assistance, the
results appear to be encouraging. The clinical cure rate among
depression sufferers who seek hospitalization has hit a new high of
35 percent, according to the CPA.
Some patients refuse to take medication as they believe mental
anguish can only be relieved by encouragement and support. Others
are reluctant to see psychiatrists for fear of being discriminated
against by their peers.
Chinese experts said the number of depression sufferers is on
the rise in China due to fierce social competition and pressure. It
is predicted that depression may surpass cancer to become the
world's second major disease just behind cardiovascular and
cerebrovascular diseases.
Zhang Yanping, vice director of the Beijing Suicide Research and
Prevention Center (BSRPC) said in China, 60 percent of those who
died of suicide and 40 percent of those who had attempted suicide
suffer from depression and other types of mental conditions.
The research results from the BSRPC show that up to 80 percent
of suicide attempts occur in rural areas with women outnumbering
men. Drinking pesticides is the most frequently-used method of
committing suicide in rural areas.
CPA statistics show that China has just 17,000 professionally
registered psychiatrists. A further 113,000 are required to meet
rising demands and the international standard of one psychiatrist
for every 10,000 people.
The significant shortage of professionals results in the fact
that many depression patients are wrongly diagnosed or treated.
Recently, the CPA held a ceremony to grant awards to 10
outstanding Chinese psychiatrists. At that ceremony, many
psychiatrists called on the government to take more interest in
treatments for depression.
Prof. Yang Lingling, a hospital psychiatrist attached to the
Central Southern University, said health authorities should train
more qualified psychiatrists and be stricter in authenticating the
qualifications of psychiatrists and clinics.
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(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2007)