Mental Health and Wellness in China
The conversations around mental health issues and treatment are generally stigmatized anywhere in the world, but especially in China. As the world we live in grows more complex in the technology we use and the work we do; as people struggle to balance their careers and their home lives; as we try to stay up to date with current events locally, nationally, and globally; it’s no wonder the mental health epidemics global citizens face are becoming more and more pressing.
What is mental health?
And what does it look like to struggle with it? The World Health Organization defines mental health as “the ability to think, learn, and understand one’s emotions and the reactions of others. Mental Health a state of balance within and with in the environment. Physical, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual, and other interrelated factors participate in producing this balance.” Culture plays a huge role in how mental health is treated both internally by individuals and externally by members of a community, whether that community is the school you attend, the town you live in, or the country you call home. The two leading mental health issues in China are depression (found in approximately 54 million people) and anxiety disorders (found in approximately 41 million).
A nationwide study (the first ever on mental health in China!) by the Division of Social Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Peking University’s Institute of Mental Health suggests that depression and anxiety issues are on the rise in China. The study took two years (2013-2015) to survey 32,000 people on their experiences related to mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and dementia. The fact that China is being vocal about these issues in news and politics will help them to be considered more seriously and will reduce the stigma around their discussion.
What does this stigma look like?
The societal taboo around mental health issues in China ranges from depression to dementia and everything in between. Because of the lack of willingness to talk about any and all mental health issues, there is not proper treatment given to those who need it. This differs from our culture in the United States because where we have stigmas around some issues (like depression and anxiety), some things we consider serious medical conditions (like dementia) are dismissed in the same way in China.
How will the stigma end?
Contemporary Chinese news source Sixth Tone covered the story of a businessman who started a mental health support group after seeking help with his own struggles with depression, bipolar disorder, and suicidal thoughts.
From Sixth Tone article "Shanghai Tulip: Breaking China's Mental Health Taboo"
“Maybe in 30 years, the public will be well educated about mental health. They’ll know how to deal with it just like they do with a cold.”
Learning about mental health disorders validates them and solves a great deal of the trouble with stigmatization. Proper care will be more readily available, and it will be able to fit the needs of many different struggles in the realm of mental health.
There are also many links between mental well being and physical well being, the latter of which you can read more about on the rest of our website!
Sources for this page are found in the hyperlinked articles discussed. Other reference sources include:
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https://gpsych.bmj.com/content/32/1/e100053
Family Based Mental Health Care in Rural China
Mao-Sheng Ran
Meng-Ze Xiang
Peggy Simpson
Cecilia Lai-Wan Chan