1 in 5 suffers `mental problems` in China city

One out of every five adults in South China`s boom city, Shenzhen, where the communist giant set up its first SEZ, suffers mental problems, a government survey has found.

Beijing: One out of every five adults in South China`s boom city, Shenzhen, where the communist giant
set up its first SEZ, suffers mental problems, a government survey has found. The survey covered more than 7,000 people aged over 18, of whom 21 per cent said they had experienced psychological difficulties at some stage of their lives and 17 per cent said they had mental problems right now, the Municipal Health Department of Shenzhen said. But the definition of "mental problems" is not clear. If the term is construed in a broad way to cover worries and anxiety of all kinds, then the figures are scarcely remarkable. Despite this, health experts insist that the stresses of modern life are taking a heavy toll on people`s peace of mind. The respondents included permanent as well as temporary Shenzhen residents and were from different walks of life, it said. ”If the same ratio applies to all residents, it would mean 1.64 million of the total 7.77 million adult population in Shenzhen have mental problems sometimes in their lives and 1.34 million of them need counselling right now," Xinhua news agency quoted the document as saying. The survey was jointly sponsored by the Municipal Departments of Health, Public Security, Civil Affairs and Labour and Social Security. Psychologists from Beijing University provided technical guidance. Despite the staggering number of people with some kind of mental or emotional problem, Shenzhen, a city of migrants that has prospered with China`s reform and opening up drive, reports a severe shortage of professionals to help them tackle the crisis, director of the city`s psychological crisis intervention centre, Lin Xiongbiao said. ”We have no more than 400 certified counsellors, much less than what is needed for the stressed-out population," he said. Meanwhile, Shenzhen hospitals have only 10 per cent of all the psychiatrists needed to ensure citizens` mental well-being, president of Kangning hospital, Hu Jize said. ”Experts say there should be at least one psychiatrist for every 10,000 people," he said, "which means Shenzhen needs nearly 1,000 but we have only around 100." The stress of living in a highly competitive and fast-paced society is perturbing a growing number of Chinese. The Ministry of Health claims about 16 million people suffer from mental disorders in China, but experts claim up to 100 million -- including at least 30 million young -- may suffer from some kind of mental or psychological discomfort. Spending on mental illnesses currently takes 20 per cent of the country`s health care budget, and the World Health Organisation has forecast a five per cent increase by 2020. Bureau Report