Why should we be so concerned about public mental health?
——Exclusive interview with Lu Lin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of Peking University Sixth Hospital
Recently, the website of the National Health and Health Commission released the "Notice of the National Health and Health Commission on the Establishment of National Medical Centers for Mental Diseases", deciding to set up national medical centers for mental diseases in Beijing, Shanghai and Hunan Province.
Lu Lin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of the Sixth Hospital of Peking University, said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China Youth Daily and China Youth Daily: "The establishment of the National Medical Center for Mental Illness is of great historical significance and significance to the development of mental health in my country. Practical significance." He told reporters that although my country's mental health has developed rapidly in the past ten years, there is still a certain gap compared with countries in the world that have developed psychiatry earlier. Public mental health problems should not be underestimated and should be addressed highly anticipated.
More than 80% of people with depression and anxiety are untreated
Lu Lin pointed out that since the 21st century, with the development of economy and society and the transformation of lifestyle, the prevalence of mental disorders has been on the rise.
The latest epidemiological survey shows that among adults in my country, the lifetime prevalence of mental disorders is 16.6%.
With the rapid spread of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the incidence of mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) has further increased.
Mental illness not only has a high incidence, but also has a heavy burden, which has a profound impact on the public, families and society.
Mental illness can impair the patient's cognitive function, interfere with the patient's emotions and behavior, and affect the patient's social functioning.
Some mental illnesses with a high disability rate also impose a heavy economic burden on the patient's family.
At the same time, some patients with severe mental disorders may have the risk of causing an accident or causing an accident, causing serious hidden dangers to social security.
Lu Lin pointed out that mental illness is a common disease and requires early intervention.
However, in my country, more than 80% of patients with depression and anxiety disorders are not treated, the reasons are many.
First of all, there is a misunderstanding in the public's understanding of mental and psychological problems. Many people often equate mental illness with "weak will", thinking that mental illness is "squeamish", "the resistance will pass", and it should not be treated as a disease. Seek medical attention promptly.
At the same time, patients with mental disorders are discriminated against. Many people are embarrassed to tell others when they have emotional or psychological problems because of their stigma, and they are unwilling to go to the hospital for treatment, resulting in delays in their illness and serious consequences.
Some people do not have a comprehensive understanding of mental illness and think that mental illness "cannot be cured", so they do not seek treatment.
Finally, the problems that prefecture and county-level cities may have nowhere to see a doctor and the difficulty of registering in big cities still exist. The lack of mental health medical institutions and staffing cannot meet the actual needs of patients, which also affects the timely medical treatment of patients.
Depression is one of the leading causes of disability among adolescents worldwide
Lu Lin emphasized that the mental health of children and adolescents needs special attention.
The mental health of children and adolescents is related to the development of the country and the future of the nation, and should be given enough attention.
He has also stated on many occasions that it is imperative to protect the mental health of children and adolescents.
Lu Lin told China Youth Daily and China Youth Daily that according to the World Health Organization report, 10%-20% of children and adolescents in the world suffer from mental illness.
Among them, depression is one of the main causes of morbidity and disability among adolescents worldwide, and it is the third largest disease burden among adolescents. It can lead to serious consequences such as suicide, and requires early intervention.
As of 2020, there are 250 million children and adolescents aged 0-14 in China, accounting for 17.9% of the total population.
Lu Lin said that childhood and adolescence is a critical period of human growth and development, as well as an important stage of psychological development.
Unlike physical diseases, most mental disorders in children and adolescents will continue into adulthood. If not diagnosed and treated early, it will affect their behavioral abilities and social functions in adulthood.
In addition to depression, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia shared with adults, common mental illnesses in children and adolescents also include some mental illnesses specific to childhood, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Internet gaming addiction and mobile phone overuse should be focused on among adolescents
Adolescent substance abuse and Internet addiction are also serious problems.
Lu Lin pointed out that the state should pay attention to the mental health of young people, especially the problem of young people's addiction to online games and excessive use of mobile phones.
He said that many teenagers are addicted to mobile games, addicted to the illusory world of the Internet, lack of interaction with the real world, lack of communication with peers, and lack of outdoor activities, which have brought many negative effects on their spirit, psychology and emotions.
Lu Lin explained that many teenagers who are addicted to online games and overuse of mobile phones may have certain psychological or emotional problems.
Some children are addicted to online games because they have emotional or psychological problems and cannot concentrate on learning; Or psychological problems, when children have emotional or psychological problems, they will become more addicted to games, forming a vicious circle.
Lu Lin emphasized that the healthy growth of adolescents is inseparable from adequate sleep, normal interpersonal communication, and regular physical exercise, otherwise there may be problems such as social fear and extreme behavior.
He pointed out that letting children use electronic products rationally and reducing their dependence on online games is an important way to maintain the mental health of young people.
In clinical practice, Lu Lin also found that many parents refused to give their children psychotropic drugs due to misunderstandings about psychotropic drugs, fearing that taking the drugs would have side effects and "make their children stupid".
To this end, Lu Lin emphasized that the theory that "taking medicine makes children stupid" is not valid.
"Although taking psychotropic drugs may have side effects for a period of time, after the condition improves and the drug is stopped, the side effects will disappear. Parents should 'the lesser of two evils', if the child has a mental disorder but not take it medicine, there will be more serious problems." Lu Lin said.
Lu Lin believes that the mental and psychological problems of adolescents are not only a problem that psychiatrists need to pay attention to, but also a problem that doctors in every department need to understand and consider.
When making a treatment plan, the doctors in each department must consider the psychological impact of the treatment plan on the child.
He said, "Doctors in every department should have basic knowledge of the mental health profession, and should understand the needs of the patient's mental and mental health, both from the perspective of the patient's physical health needs and from the perspective of the patient's psychological and mental health needs. Treating patients is a philosophy that every doctor should have.”
In Lu Lin's view, it is far from enough to set up national psychiatric medical centers in Beijing, Shanghai and Hunan. He suggested that in the future, a psychiatric medical center should be set up in every province (autonomous region, city), "with the smallest cost, minimize the suffering of patients, and allow more patients to recover as soon as possible and return to social life.”
China Youth Daily, China Youth Daily reporter Xia Jin