Monday marks the World Mental Health Day. A number of activities have been held in China to arouse public awareness of metal illness. In capital Beijing, China's Ministry of Health organized a counseling service in a neighborhood east of Beijing. Mao Anqun is the spokesman of the ministry.

"We hope the public can access the knowledge of mental health and preventive skills of mental illnesses. We also call on communities to help mental patients to recover as soon as possible and establish a harmonious community as well as harmonious society."

Psychological experts lectured on the character, preventive measures and treatment of mental problems. Related exhibitions are also offered to the residents.

Besides Beijing, similar counseling services have visited schools and residential communities in many other cities, including Tianjin, Guangdong and Nanjing.

About 16 million people in China have been diagnosed with suffering from mental problems.

And the number is expected to rise fast, as the country is experiencing social transformation.

Meanwhile, China has already established professional institutions focusing on mental health across the nation and launched counseling and psycho-social courses in schools. And achievements have also been made in the research field. 

(CRI October 11, 2005)