Shenzhen looking to lead the field

The national average of psychiatric hospital beds for every 10,000 residents is 1.71, but in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, the number is just is 0.58. Now, that is set to change.

At the start of the reform and opening-up policy, Shenzhen was chosen as the site of China's first special economic zone. Now, the country's fourth-largest city in terms of gross domestic product is in the vanguard once again, leading efforts to absorb the experiences of mental health professionals and treatment overseas.

In July, the city government hosted a group of mental health social workers from New York, and last year, police officers from Melbourne, Australia, who are experienced in the field, were invited to share their experiences with their counterparts in Shenzhen.