China's National Health Commission Reports Progress on Mental Health Initiatives Amid World Health Day Focus on Depression

VCBeat News: Today is World Health Day, and the World Health Organization has set this year’s theme as “Let’s Talk About Depression.” The National Health and Family Planning Commission has also organized science popularization and publicity activities related to mental health under the promotional theme “Confronting Depression Together, Promoting Mental Health.” The primary objective is to enhance public awareness of the importance of mental health, raise consciousness about psychological well-being, and encourage individuals to pay attention to their own mental health and prevent mental disorders through extensive outreach.

In the bulletin issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, VCBeat extracted key data and content for analysis.

Among China’s current physician workforce, the most acute shortages are in pediatrics and psychiatry. By the end of 2014, there were 4.3 million registered patients with severe mental disorders nationwide. In 2010, China had only 228,000 psychiatric beds, more than 20,000 psychiatrists, and 1,650 specialized mental health institutions. This translated to an average of 1.49 psychiatrists per 100,000 population and 1.71 psychiatric beds per 10,000 population, figures far below the global average of approximately 4.3 beds per 10,000 people.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission has repeatedly stated that efforts to train pediatricians and psychiatrists should be significantly strengthened. There are generally two approaches: first, increasing enrollment and training in urgently needed and scarce specialties such as pediatrics and psychiatry, and launching pilot programs for standardized residency training; second, carrying outPediatricsandPsychiatry# Physician Transition Training ProgramFrom 2010 to 2015, the number of psychiatrists did not show a significant increase. The National Health and Family Planning Commission reported today that there were 27,733 psychiatrists, a figure largely unchanged from the 2010 data. In contrast, the number of mental health service institutions and hospital beds saw a substantial increase, nearly doubling.

The shortage of psychiatrists has not been significantly alleviated, and the increase in psychiatric beds has exacerbated the scarcity of mental health professionals. Two high-profile incidents this year both occurred within the field of psychiatry: the “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” scandal at Guihang Guiyang Hospital that gained widespread attention during the Spring Festival, and the dismissal of two physicians at Tianyou Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology in March due to violations related to multi-site practice regulations.

First, the prevalence of mood disorders, primarily depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders is generally on the rise.

Mental disorders constitute a broad concept. According to the classification standards recommended by the World Health Organization, they encompass 10 major categories comprising nearly 400 distinct conditions. Research findings indicate that the prevalence of mood disorders in China is 4.06% (with depressive disorders accounting for 3.59%), and the prevalence of anxiety disorders is 4.98%, both figures being higher than those reported in surveys conducted in China during the 1980s and 1990s. Compared with data from some developed and middle-income countries published in recent years in authoritative international journals, the prevalence rates of mood and anxiety disorders in China are lower than those in the United States, France, Ukraine, Brazil, Australia, and South Africa.

Second, the prevalence of dementia in the elderly is on the rise.

With the intensifying aging of China’s population, the overall prevalence of dementia in older adults has shown an upward trend. Research findings indicate that the prevalence of dementia among individuals aged 65 years and older is 5.56%, which is higher than the results from surveys conducted in certain regions of China since 1987. Compared with other countries having higher life expectancy, China’s prevalence of dementia in older adults is lower than that of the United States, Japan, South Korea, and other nations.

Third, alcohol use disorder in men warrants attention.

Influenced by regional drinking customs and residents’ drinking habits, previous surveys across China have shown substantial variations in the prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) among different regions. Study results indicate that the prevalence of AUD in China is 1.84%, with a significantly higher rate among men than women. Compared with findings from some high-income and middle-income countries published in recent years in authoritative international journals, China’s AUD prevalence is at a moderate level.

First, strengthen public education on mental health.

Some residents experience stigma associated with mental disorders and are reluctant to seek professional help due to fears of discrimination by those around them. The National Health and Family Planning Commission has strengthened collaboration with various media outlets, engaging in joint efforts to devise innovative strategies for disseminating mental health education through multi-dimensional, multi-channel, and diverse formats. These initiatives aim to enhance public health awareness, call for broad societal attention to mental health issues such as depression prevention and treatment, and encourage individuals to prioritize their own psychological well-being. The goal is to help the public recognize that mental illnesses, like physical diseases, require a scientific understanding; to promote the acquisition of relevant knowledge; and to advocate for early prevention, early detection, and early intervention.

Second, strengthen the prevention and control of key mental disorders.

Strengthen prevention and control efforts for five key mental disorders: depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, dementia in the elderly, and alcohol use disorder in young and middle-aged men.

Third, actively promote mental health services.

Implement the various policy measures proposed in the "Guiding Opinions on Strengthening Mental Health Services," improve the mental health service network, establish psychological counseling (guidance) rooms in government agencies, enterprises, public institutions, and schools, and set up psychological counseling rooms relying on comprehensive community service facilities in urban and rural areas. Encourage higher education institutions with the necessary conditions to offer majors in clinical and counseling psychology, and accelerate the training of professional personnel. Improve the training content and assessment methods for psychological counselors, and strengthen the assessment of practical operational skills.