More than 26 million Chinese suffer depression, but only 10 percent of them go to doctors, according to a medical expert in Beijing.

Some 10 to 15 percent of those with the depression problem in the country are likely to commit suicide, but only less than 10 percent of them are taking medicines or receiving medical treatment, said Zhou Dongfeng, an expert with the Chinese Medical Association, at the Asian Neuro-science Summit held in Beijing on Saturday. 

Moreover, less than 20 percent of hospitals in the Chinese cities are capable of making correct diagnoses on depressive symptoms, he said.

"Many people regard depression as a secret problem and therefore avoid taking medicines," said Zhou. "But in fact, it is important for the patients to have a correct view on medical treatment to have their disease cured."

He called on the public to take a correct attitude toward depression, and urged those suffering from the disease to go to doctors more often.

According to World Health Organization statistics, depression has become the No.4 major disease in the world, and is expected to become the second biggest threat to human health by the year 2020, only after heart diseases.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2005)