The number of people suffering from depression in China exceeds 95 million, and the incidence tends to be younger.

According to the Beijing Business Daily, recently, due to the death of singer Coco Lee, depression has once again entered the public eye. The World Health Organization estimates that there are about 0.35 billion people suffering from depression worldwide. It is estimated that the number of patients with depression in China is more than 95 million people. Only 9.5 per cent of patients diagnosed with depressive disorder within one year had ever been treated by a health service. To this end, China has taken diversified measures in the prevention and treatment of depression. Depression can be prevented and treated, the industry called for understanding, respect, accompany patients with depression.

95 million people with depression

On July 6, Coco Lee's husband Bruce and Coco Lee's two sisters issued an obituary together: "We would like to announce with great sorrow and sadness that after a long struggle with depression, Coco Lee passed away on July 5, 2023 at the age of 48."

A generation later on this fall, the depression behind it also caused public vigilance. What kind of depression? Lu Lin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of the sixth Hospital of Peking University, pointed out at a press conference held by the National Health Commission in 2022, "Depression is an obvious bad mood, and it takes a period of time to be regarded as depression. If today's work, life, family or various things are not going well, but it will soon pass, this does not need treatment, the past is over, it is a state of depression. But if it lasts for a long time, it will affect our work, life and rest. It may be depression, which needs treatment".

According to WHO estimates, there are about 0.35 billion patients with depression in the world. The growth rate of patients in the past ten years is about 18%, and about 1 million people commit suicide due to depression every year. The number of depression in our country is not optimistic. According to the "2022 National Depression Blue Book" data, the number of people suffering from depression in my country currently exceeds 95 million, which means that there is 1 depression in every 14 people. Beijing Business Daily reporter in the Sina micro-blog search found that# depression# reading volume reached 1.39 billion.

Regarding the causes of depression, Lu Lin said that the prevalence of depression has been on the rise in recent years. There are two main reasons. First, with the development of the economy, the pace of social work has accelerated, and there are some disasters. The occurrence of events, such as epidemics, geological disasters, etc., these uncertainties will affect everyone's emotions and increase the prevalence of depression. The second is mainly the state, the people's awareness of depression.

"In the past, we may think that depression is not a disease, or we don't understand it, don't treat it, or even when other diseases are treated, many people may feel uncomfortable, as some stomach disease, heart disease, headache treatment, in fact, many may be depression. We ordinary people have increased awareness of this and feel that the prevalence of depression has increased. In fact, the prevalence rate in our country is still a little lower than that in developed countries." Lu Lin said.

Huang Yueqin, a professor at Peking University Sixth Hospital, said that only 9.5 percent of patients diagnosed with depressive disorder within a year had been treated by health services. Even among patients with depressive disorder who visit a mental health professional, only 7.1 percent receive adequate treatment.

80% of counties (cities, districts) have opened outpatient clinics

In the context of such a large population base, the state is also very concerned about the treatment of depression. The Healthy China Action has set a goal of increasing residents' mental health literacy level to 20% and 30% by 2022 and 2030. The rising trend of anxiety disorder prevalence and depression prevalence rate has slowed down.

As early as 2020, the National Health Commission issued the "Work Plan for Exploring Special Services for Depression Prevention and Treatment", which clearly defined the work objectives of the pilot areas by 2022, including the public awareness rate of depression prevention and treatment reaching 80%, the depression consultation rate increasing by 50%, the treatment rate increasing by 30%, and the recognition rate of depression by doctors in non-mental Junior College hospitals increasing by 50%. At the same time, the state has used major public health project funds from the central government to carry out pilot work in some prefectures and cities, and organized experts to formulate the ''Common Mental Disorders Prevention and Control and Children and Adolescents' Mental Health Promotion Project Implementation Plan'', so that every school, every university, Every enterprise or every government department pays attention to the problem of depression, starting with children and adolescents.

On how to treat depression, Cao Qiuyun, chief physician of the Internet Psychology Department of Nanjing Gulou Hospital, said that depression itself is a mental illness, which used to be called mental illness. Patients can go to the psychiatric department or psychological department of the psychiatric hospital for diagnosis and treatment. In general hospitals, medical psychology, clinical psychology, psychiatry, psychiatry and psychosomatic departments can all treat depression.

According to the letter on the official website of the Health Commission on the reply to the proposal No. 3307 (Medical and Sports No. 249) of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese people's political Consultative Conference, at present, about 80% of the counties (cities and districts) in the country have at least one mental Junior College hospital or open psychiatric (psychological) outpatient clinics in general hospitals.

Depression tends to be younger.

In how to prevent and treat depression, to avoid "stigma" is the most mentioned word in the industry.

Lu Buyun, a health manager and psychological counselor, analyzed to a reporter from Beijing Business Daily that depression has tended to be younger or even younger in recent years, which is a very bad signal. Many people have experienced depression, but this is essentially different from depression. The former is a state and the latter is a disease. More should be produced in the state of depression from the side of intervention, to prevent its evolution into a qualitative change of depression. However, under the influence of traditional concepts, Chinese people are taboo to talk about psychological problems and are ashamed to show their shortcomings for fear of losing face. When you find that you have symptoms of depression, you should take the initiative to ask for help from a trusted person or psychological assistance organization. Actively seek treatment in order to completely cure the disease.

With regard to the overall situation of setting up depression departments in public hospitals, Lu Buyun believes that its coverage, relevant configuration and manpower are obviously insufficient. "although there are many profit-making psychological counseling units in operation, psychological counseling cases need to have a long-term process, and the disease is not cured immediately. In the case of the speed of such cases> the cultivation of mature psychological counseling personnel, from the government level to medical institutions, to enterprises, schools and grass-roots service institutions, and then to integrate psychological counseling institutions, it is necessary to form a series of psychological care mechanisms and services, which is necessary to alleviate the impact of psychological depression. At the same time, it also advocates that individuals can seek the sustenance of interests and hobbies, participate in social activities or sports to divert attention, or be more charitable lovers and self, which is obviously helpful to release depression and express their hearts".

Outside the hospital, Deng Zhidong, general manager of Hainan Boao Medical Technology Co., Ltd., pointed out that on the one hand, the country should strengthen the construction of the mental health service system and establish social support and psychological consultation channels; on the other hand, units and individuals also need to create a positive and healthy life, Work environment, maintain a positive and optimistic attitude towards life, cultivate a healthy lifestyle, avoid excessive stress and anxiety, and face and deal with personal negative emotions in time.