Depression a glaring problem in China   

都市快报副总编辑徐行患抑郁症自杀 年仅35岁

(ECNS) – A journalist's death has once again drawn public attention to the problem of depression in China.

Xu Xing, deputy editor-in-chief of Hangzhou's City Express newspaper, committed suicide on May 4. He was 35.

Xu was a victim of depression, suffering from severe work pressure and long-term insomnia.

According to a report by the Chinese Medical Association, 10 to 15 percent of depressed people choose to die by suicide, while people with depression account for two thirds of suicide deaths in China.

A WHO report says that depression has become the third largest illness in the world, and will rise to the second by 2020, only after heart disease.

The world depression rate is 2 to 5 percent, while that of China stands between 1.5 to 3.5 percent, according to the WHO.

However, that number is probably underestimated.

In China, not enough emphasis has been put on the problem of depression. Many depressed people are unaware of remedies such as therapy or medication, and don't see mental illness as serious as physical diseases.

Hu Xiong, deputy director of a hospital in Zhengzhou, Henan province, said well-educated white collars such as media professionals, doctors, teachers and some government leaders, as well as those in dangerous professions like firefighters and policemen, are most prone to depression.

Those aged 25 to 49 and 50 to 70 are the biggest victims of depression, as these people usually suffer most from pressure or age-related illnesses.

Depression is affecting the younger generation too. Some middle school students and even younger kids fall into despair after being pushed too hard by their parents.

Psychologist Zhao Huihua said employers should create an amiable work environment for employees, and schools need to improve psychological education for youth.