Mental health a concern

It is estimated that there are 16 million people in China with a serious mental health problem, and behind that number are the challenges that families, communities and health providers face in taking care of them.

In Beijing alone, there are about five reports a day to the authorities of attacks or other incidents involving people with serious mental health problems. A man with mental health problems from outside Beijing even attacked and killed an American tourist in the city on July 11. Helping these people and reducing the risk they pose to the public call for further efforts and greater investment.

A more broadly based rehabilitation system is needed so that people with mental health problems get the care and attention they need. There are now 19,000 registered psychiatrists working in 572 mental hospitals nationwide, which have 132,000 beds. This means a psychiatrist has to deal with some 800 patients on average, and most of the patients do not have access to hospitalization.