Tackling depression among pupils
Print Edition
CHINA has been enhancing work on prevention and treatment of depression among students, with recent efforts including screening of illness during students’ health checks, the Ministry of Education said.
The ministry’s statement was a response to a proposal on depression prevention and treatment among teenagers put forth by the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, China’s top political advisory body, during its fourth plenary session on March 4-10.
China’s mental health law unveiled in 2013 explicitly defines depression as a mental illness. The ministry said it has been cooperating with the National Health Commission on depression prevention and treatment, as well as related education.
Their efforts include a work plan for depression prevention and treatment issued by the NHC last year, aimed at creating a social environment in favor of teenagers’ mental health by the end of 2022.
It requires mental health education to be a compulsory course in secondary schools and colleges, guiding students to develop proper recognition of depression and correct ways to seek timely professional help if they are depressed.
According to the plan, an overall system for prevention, treatment and assessment of the illness should be established. In this system, screening for depression should be included in students’ health checks and records should be kept to track students’ mental health so as to offer timely intervention if they show signs of mental ailment.
Wang Feng, director of the Student Development Research Center of the General Education Institute of the Shanghai Academy of Educational Sciences, said all city schools have either part-time or full-time psychological teachers to deliver mental health classes as well as offering psychological counselling services.
Meanwhile, students’ mental health conditions are tracked.
“When students are enrolled into a new school, they are usually asked to go through some small quizzes to see if they suffer from depression,” he said. “If students show signs of mental disorder, psychological teachers and other veteran teachers communicate with them to make further assessment.”
“For children with obvious symptoms of depression, we contact their families and recommend them to seek professional diagnosis and treatment at mental health hospitals.
“We also recommend mental health hotlines, such as 962525 and 12355, for students to seek help for emotional problems.”
Schools are supposed to make special arrangements based on the students’ conditions, such as suspension and resumption of schooling and on-campus psychological assistance.
Wang said in recent years, Shanghai has been building an improved caring system for students, in which, schools, communities and government departments step up efforts to identify risks that push children into depression and get them necessary help.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
