One in ten Chinese minors suffers from mental disorder

A recent survey conducted by Chinese scholars revealed that nearly one in ten minors in China are suffers from mental disorder.

The China daily Cheng Yingqi reported an international conference conducted jointly by the Beijing Anding Hospital and the Chinese Medical Association as saying in Beijing on Sunday that as many as 30 million minors in China are plagued with mental disorders or behaviour problems.

"The number 30 million is based on regional researches in recent years. Since the mental health of children must have worsened over time, the real number could be even higher," said Cui Yonghua, a child psychiatrist with the Beijing Anding Hospital.

Experts also criticised the government for not conducting any nationwide survey on mental problems among children.

It is to be noted that the tendency of abnormal activities due to various undue mental pressures has increased significantly in the country.

In an incident around a fortnight ago, five high school students reportedly tried to relieve the pressure of studies by racing cars on the road in Yantai, Shandong province.

Psychiatrists believe that medical care for children's mental health might be inadequate in some regions as half the patients at the Beijing Anding Hospital come from other cities and provinces. They hold the environment change, growing pressure and sharper competition as prime reasons for this sudden increase of mental disorders.