China Medical News

According to the deputy chief for disease control and prevention at the National Health and Family Planning Commission National Health and Family Planning Commission, the number of registered patients with serious mental disorders in China reached 5.4 million last year, with three-quarters suffering schizophrenia. Previous figures released by the commission showed the number of such registered patients was 4.3 million by the end of 2014.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 54 million people in China suffer from depression. A professor of psychiatry at Beijing University Sixth Hospital said that "This means only a small portion of people with mental diseases are actually diagnosed and treated". He added "In many other countries, patients with mental disorders first seek treatment at community health centers or their family doctors, but in China, most patients go to big comprehensive hospitals first, as other institutes may lack qualified psychiatrists" and suggested the lack of facilities and talent at community-level medical institutions are major obstacles to prevention and treatment of mental illnesses in China. (Source: China Daily)