Ninety percent of the 30 million people in China suffering from depression fail to get proper treatment due to worries about discrimination and a lack of professional psychiatrists, according to the Chinese Psychiatrist Association (CPA).

But for the 10 percent that did receive medical assistance, the results appear to be encouraging. The clinical cure rate among depression sufferers who seek hospitalization has hit a new high of 35 percent, according to the CPA.

Some patients refuse to take medication as they believe mental anguish can only be relieved by encouragement and support. Others are reluctant to see psychiatrists for fear of being discriminated against by their peers.

Chinese experts said the number of depression sufferers is on the rise in China due to fierce social competition and pressure. It is predicted that depression may surpass cancer to become the world's second major disease just behind cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Zhang Yanping, vice director of the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center (BSRPC) said in China, 60 percent of those who died of suicide and 40 percent of those who had attempted suicide suffer from depression and other types of mental conditions.

The research results from the BSRPC show that up to 80 percent of suicide attempts occur in rural areas with women outnumbering men. Drinking pesticides is the most frequently-used method of committing suicide in rural areas.

CPA statistics show that China has just 17,000 professionally registered psychiatrists. A further 113,000 are required to meet rising demands and the international standard of one psychiatrist for every 10,000 people.

The significant shortage of professionals results in the fact that many depression patients are wrongly diagnosed or treated.

Recently, the CPA held a ceremony to grant awards to 10 outstanding Chinese psychiatrists. At that ceremony, many psychiatrists called on the government to take more interest in treatments for depression.

Prof. Yang Lingling, a hospital psychiatrist attached to the Central Southern University, said health authorities should train more qualified psychiatrists and be stricter in authenticating the qualifications of psychiatrists and clinics.
 
(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2007)