by Xinhua writer Wang Aihua
BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Every Thursday, six-year-old Xu Hanqing, a first-grader at a primary school in Beijing, participates in a psychological health course at school. Occasionally, he will bring home a piece of paper covered in his doodles.
"We sometimes doodle during the course," Xu told Xinhua. "Our teacher also gives lectures and discusses our feelings."
Psychological health education is becoming more prominent in school curricula across China and widely discussed in Chinese media. The topic is gaining attraction and eliciting active responses from teachers, parents, and the broader community.
CHALLENGES, CAUSES
A nationwide survey conducted in 2021 found that 17.5 percent of children and adolescents in the country experience mental disorders, with indications that these issues are emerging at increasingly younger ages. The most prevalent disorders include attention deficit hyperactivity, anxiety, defiance, and depression.
A 2023 report on depression stated that among the 95 million individuals in China diagnosed with depression, those under 18 years old represent 30 percent of the total.
Last summer, several hospitals in Beijing reported a rise in visits from children and adolescents seeking help for mental health issues.
At the Children's Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai, which has operated a special clinic for learning difficulties for nearly three years, appointments every Thursday afternoon are almost fully booked.
Qin Xiaoxia, a psychiatrist at the First Hospital of China Medical University in Shenyang, noted that primary and middle school students account for more than half of the over 40 patients she sees each day.
Experts attribute the rise in mental health issues among minors to escalating pressure from families and schools, as well as greater access to the internet.
Wu Jiujun, director of the psychological health education center at Hainan University in southern China, said some parents place excessive emphasis on their children's academic performance, which creates significant pressure on the students and often strains parent-child relationships.
"In addition, today's children grow up in affluent conditions and are typically overly protected during their formative years," Wu said. "This effectively deprives them of the opportunity to overcome difficulties and learn how to face setbacks, making it challenging for them to enhance their conflict resolution skills, problem-solving abilities, and resilience under pressure."
Zeng Xiangyun, a psychological counselor in Liaoning Province, noted that widespread internet use has largely replaced face-to-face social interactions, adversely impacting the mental well-being of minors.
"Excessive smartphone use among adolescents can make them vulnerable to negative online values, leading to harmful information influencing students and encouraging them to accept or even mimic these behaviors," Zeng added.
RESPONSES, PROSPECTS
Facing significant challenges, China has mobilized educational resources -- from schools to broader society -- to enhance children's ability in developing resilience and to detect unusual behavior promptly.
The Ministry of Education has in recent years issued several guidelines aimed at strengthening mental health initiatives for students. In a 2023 action plan, authorities mandated that primary and secondary schools across the nation incorporate psychological health courses into their curricula.
Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics reveals that in 2023, 64.8 percent of secondary schools and 42.3 percent of primary schools in China employed full-time mental health education teachers.
Social organizations focused on children's mental health care have emerged nationwide, including public institutions such as hospitals, private counseling and training centers, non-governmental organizations, and charities.
Li Xiafeng, who left her internet job in Beijing in 2010, now resides in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and leads a charitable team of over 20,000 volunteers, teaching parents practical educational techniques and psychological counseling methods. They also organize psychological healing camps for local residents, benefiting tens of thousands.
"As a fundamental unit of society, family is key to shaping character and transmitting values," 43-year-old Li stated.
Psychiatrist Lu Ruili at Hainan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital has noted an increasing awareness of mental health issues among both children and their parents, with more adolescent patients now voluntarily seeking medical assistance. "This not only enables them to receive timely professional support, but also sends a positive message regarding their attitudes," Lu said.
Experts indicate that mental health education for Chinese students faces ongoing challenges, primarily stemming from inadequate communication between parents and schools, limited practical training for teachers, and insufficient social resources to support students.
They advocate for the establishment of a collaborative mechanism that unites schools, families, communities, and relevant authorities to enhance mental health education, identify health issues and provide timely intervention.
Experts also emphasize the importance of daily habits, such as increasing physical activity, to help maintain students' emotional regulation and alleviate stress.
Li Changhong, a social worker and deputy to the Chongqing municipal people's congress, proposed creating mental health databases for students, standardizing psychological assessment tools, and implementing early warning and intervention mechanisms.
"Involving social organizations in providing mental health education, counseling, and case intervention services in schools would also be advantageous," Li noted. ■