Depression exacts a heavy toll on people

Depression is a mental condition characterized by a persistent low mood accompanied by feelings of guilt, low self-esteem and loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities. It is a serious and common mental disorder that may lead to suicide in some and entails significant economic and social costs.

China's rapid economic growth, along with growing social and economic pressures, has increased the awareness about depression and the number of people it affects. The World Health Organization estimates 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression. Although reliable data are difficult to obtain, an estimated 26 million people in China are affected by depression. In the United States, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, 16 million adults had at least one major depressive episode in 2012.

In 2009, WHO said mental illness - which affected 7 percent of the population - had overtaken heart disease and cancer as the biggest burden on China's healthcare system. Among its causes are psychological, genetic and biological factors. In addition, long-term substance abuse could lead to or worsen depression.