Approximately one out of 13 people in China suffers mental disorders, yet only a few of them are conscious of their problems, and even fewer have received any appropriate treatment, the Beijing News reported on January 5.

According to the National Center for Mental Health and the Institute of Mental Health of Peking University, there has been an increase in the number of people suffering minor mental illnesses in recent years. Huang Yueqin, director from National Center for Mental Health, said a majority of mental patients suffer anxiety disorder and depression.

Experts said these common mental illnesses bring little harm to society, though they can cause great anguish to the individual sufferers. They also warned that psychological pressure on victims increases when they do not get the appropriate treatment. Their suffering puts patients' physical health at risk, prevents them from joining in normal social affairs, and causes significant financial expense.

According to the National Center for Mental Health, the burden of mental illness represents 20 percent of the total burden of all illness, and this figure is expected to reach 25 percent in 2020.

Yet the health budget accounts for only 5.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), while spending on mental health represents only 2.35 percent of the health budget. About 56 million mental patients in the country live without treatment. Moreover, medical help is available to only one out of four people with serious mental disorders.

(China.org.cn January 5, 2009)