Home>News Center>China
       
 

Poll: Minors suffer from anxiety, depression
By Wang Zhenghua (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-05-25 22:27

A growing number of primary school students in Beijing are suffering anxiety and depression, according to a survey by the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League of China.

Meanwhile, a programme targeting children enduring such mental health issues and problems is under way.

According to officials, as many as 18 per cent primary school children from Beijing were suffering mental problems in 2002, 10 per cent higher than two decades ago.

Nationwide, some 16 per cent of elementary school students have tendencies towards mental illnesses, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.

What is more appalling, about 30 million Chinese teenagers under 17 suffer various degrees of psychological problems, the Chinese Ministry of Health said last month.

In the meantime, the programme aiming to help the capital's juveniles overcome mental problems has been under way for about one year.

Launched by the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League of China and three related departments, it involves lectures, parent and counselor training, mental health education evaluations and a handful of other activities.

According to the committee, 25 lectures on how to educate children were presented for some 8,500 parents over the past year, while 17 other lectures were given by college student volunteers that attracted 7,000 middle school attendees.

Zhang Hong, a committee official, told China Daily that the programme is making its way to education establishments for migrant workers' children.

At the moment, there are 240,000 children staying with their parents seeking employment in Beijing.

"Apart from granting financial support to these schools struggling in metropolis," said Zhang, "we should care more about their students' mental health, and that is what my committee is supposed to do."

With the International Children's Day just around the corner, Zhang's committee is trying to bring this group of children into the grand celebration.

 
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

Bush takes the offensive on Iraq, outlines plans

 

   
 

Japanese chemical weapon container found

 

   
 

First SARS vaccine tested

 

   
 

System to safeguard ships from terrorism

 

   
 

Dubious license plate auctions stay for now

 

   
 

Spokesman: Chen a threat to Straits peace

 

   
  Japanese mustard gas poisons at least 9
   
  Shall zoo move? No, say experts
   
  Beijing man sues Bentley maker
   
  Students fight unauthorized text fees
   
  Safety drive aimed at curbing inferior food
   
  Tibetan pride high on railway project
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  News Talk  
  When will china have direct elections?  
Advertisement