A series of psychological health education programmes will be conducted next year in residential districts throughout China.

According to the World Health Organization, 200 million to 300 million Chinese have psychological problems. It is expected that by 2020, one-fourth of the medical expenditure in China will go towards psychological diseases.

"A person is not healthy if he or she is not in good psychological condition," Deputy Health Minister Jiang Zuojun told a conference yesterday.

He emphasized that health authorities will attach great importance to psychological education.

"Prevention of mental diseases is more important than merely treating the diseases," Jiang said.

Mental problems among various groups have aroused public concern.

Early this month, a student with the Peking University Health Science Center killed a stray cat by throwing it against a wall in full view of other students.

Many believe the student was under immense mental pressure. He is now undergoing psychological treatment.

People in other professions, such as policemen, teachers and physicians also suffer from a high occurrence of mental problems.

According to a survey by a district education bureau in Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, one-fourth of the primary and kindergarten teachers need psychological assistance.

A study in East China's Fujian Province showed that over half its policemen suffered from mental problems.

The education programme next year is part of a project started by the Ministry of Health in 2003 to help residents live a healthy life.

A total of 14 experts from the programme have given talks to residents in more than 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

The subjects included high blood pressure, infectious diseases and diabetes mellitus.

In Shanghai, a total of 3,200 health service stations were established in residential districts last year. More than 3,600 people have so far volunteered their services.

(China Daily December 22, 2006)