China announced Friday that it will for the first time introduce a special program to help employees improve their mental health through international cooperation.

The announcement was made at an international forum on the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) held in Beijing, co-sponsored by the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel, China Services International and other organizations.

EAP is a workplace program designed to help companies address productivity issues and give guidance to employees or their family members to identify and resolve personal concerns, including health, marriage, family, finances, and alcohol, that may affect job performance.

By introducing the program, China will borrow the successful models and advanced experience of other countries, and cooperate with international organizations in an effort to better employees' psychological condition.

At present, more than 80 percent of the world's top 500 companies have set up EAPs. International experience shows that if properly implemented, an EAP is conducive to adjusting employees' mood, easing working pressure, resolving interpersonal disputes and coping with emergencies.

In China, with increasing working and personal stress, depression and anxiety are prevalent and divorce rates are going up. However, there are limited mental health resources for the majority of Chinese citizens.

John Maynader, CEO of the International EAP Association, said China has a great need for EAPs. "I am looking forward to collaborating with Chinese partners to find the most useful way in terms of assisting China's companies and government to adopt effective models," he said.

More than 100 home and overseas psychological experts, government officials and human resources directors gathered at the forum to discuss how to apply EAPs to Chinese enterprises and generally promote harmonious development within them.

(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2005)