HaoXinQing Files IPO Prospectus Highlighting Mental Health Support for Medical Professionals

Currently, mental and psychological health has a significant impact on people's work, daily lives, and even social harmony and stability. The fast-paced lifestyle of modern society is difficult for many to adapt to, leading to a sharp increase in various psychological stress factors. According to statistics from the World Health Organization, the global prevalence rate of depression is approximately 11%, with around 340 million people suffering from depression worldwide. Each year, millions of people die directly or indirectly due to depression.

Depression, with its increasing “destructive power” and “fatality rate,” has drawn widespread attention and been labeled the “fourth leading disease globally” and “the nemesis of humanity in the 21st century.” In recent years, a considerable number of celebrities and corporate executives have developed depression due to psychological stress and public opinion, with some even resorting to tragic acts such as jumping from buildings to commit suicide.

Falling ill, seeing a doctor, and letting the doctor resolve the issue—this is typically the public’s primary understanding of the patient-physician relationship. However, due to the advancements in medical technology, many complex and challenging cases still require physicians’ dedicated efforts to overcome. Doctors are ordinary people as well; they have basic human needs and experience the full range of emotions. More often than not, patients entrust their suffering entirely to doctors, who, while managing their own stress, undoubtedly bear additional invisible burdens. Consequently, a significant number of healthcare professionals have recently developed psychological issues due to excessive pressure.

Statistical analyses conducted by the international medical community have shown that the average life expectancy of healthcare professionals is significantly lower than that of the general population, particularly among surgeons. In the United States, an average of one physician commits suicide each day; the suicide rate among male physicians is 1.4 times that of the general population, while among female physicians it is 2.3 times higher. According to a Danish study examining suicide rates across 55 occupations, physicians and nurses ranked first and second, respectively, in terms of relative risk of suicide. Physicians experience greater work-related stress than many other professions, classifying them as a typical “high-stress” group.

I once saw a post on Weibo by “Yu Ying, the Female Superman of the Emergency Department,” who humorously described the “superhuman workload” of emergency physicians. Doctors are not superheroes, but their work intensity truly surpasses that of ordinary people. It is no exaggeration to say that they spend nearly all their waking hours in the operating room, aside from eating and sleeping. Physiologically, they expend tremendous physical and mental energy. Psychologically, the public expects them to demonstrate strong compassion and empathy. In terms of willpower, medical professionals must uphold steadfast professional ethics and unwavering dedication. To keep pace with advances in medical technology, they must engage in continuous learning, process vast amounts of information, retain extensive knowledge, and rapidly absorb, analyze, and make decisions based on this information. Faced with such external pressures and high self-expectations, it is fair to say that these demands are indeed unbearable for an average person.

Even so, healthcare workers often live in constant fear and walk on eggshells due to sudden incidents involving “medical disturbances” and “medical disputes.” “Young healthcare professionals face numerous pressures from work, study, and daily life, but doctor-patient disputes are a primary factor driving young doctors to resign. Many physicians, intimidated by patient threats, begin to doubt their clinical skills, become afraid to perform surgeries, and are ultimately forced to leave the profession due to psychological distress,” said Song Wei, a physician at the Second Hospital of Shandong University. A single medical dispute can ruin a young doctor’s future.

Zhang Yanping, Deputy Director of the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center, stated that the suicide rate among physicians is higher than that of the general population, particularly among female doctors. Many physicians also struggle to fulfill their family roles adequately. Compounding this issue are rising living costs, expenses related to children’s education, soaring housing prices, competitive job retention, and challenges in career advancement, all of which contribute to heightened anxiety among doctors. However, due to a reluctance to seek help stemming from professional stigma, these pressures ultimately led to the tragic and nationally sensationalized incident in which two doctors from the same hospital committed suicide in succession—a outcome that is deeply regrettable.

Now, let us revisit the topic of “healthcare workers.” Do you still perceive them merely as glamorous, high-earning professionals? Healthcare workers constitute a fundamental and indispensable segment of society, safeguarding its basic health and stability. Therefore, their physical and mental well-being deserves heightened attention from both society and the general public. A healthy healthcare provider offers not only relief from illness but also holistic healing for body and mind. As our national leaders have stated, “prioritizing the mental and psychological health of healthcare workers” is a crucial measure for ensuring and improving people’s livelihoods, as well as strengthening and innovating social governance. This area must be prioritized, because only by ensuring the mental well-being of the population can we realize the great “Chinese Dream” and better showcase the “Chinese Spirit” to the world.