Mental health screening will henceforth be a part of the routine diagnosis and treatment processes of all clinical departments in medical institutions in the country according to a new circular issued by China's National Health Commission (NHC) in April 2025.
The circular mandates that local authorities should take effective measures to expand the pool of specialised personnel engaged in mental health and psychiatric services, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses and psychotherapists.
The new circular details the launch of a three-year campaign, lasting until 2027, to improve China's paediatric care and mental health and psychiatric services. According to the circular, patients flagged through screening as potentially having psychological issues should receive timely mental health evaluations. Those confirmed to have psychological issues or suspected of having mental illnesses following evaluations should promptly receive intervention.
As part of the three-year campaign, local authorities are required to strengthen the staffing of medical personnel engaged in the management and care of patients with severe mental disorders at township health centres and community health service centres, ensuring that each facility has dedicated personnel for this purpose.
The campaign will focus on addressing the rising prevalence of mental health issues among children and adolescents. A report by Reuters said the initiative includes the establishment of a national mental health hotline, regional mental health centres, and the promotion of major clinical specialties in mental health.
According to World Health Organization estimates 54m people in China suffer from depression, and about 41m from anxiety disorders. China’s total population is around 1.4bn. The prevalence of depression among adolescents is around 2% according to China’s official news agency Xinhua.
The NHC aims to ensure that by the end of 2025, outpatient services for mental and sleep disorders will be accessible in at least one hospital in every prefecture and city across the country.