Necessity and feasibility of improving mental health services in China: A systematic qualitative review

Abstract

It has been nearly 40 years since the reform and opening up of Mainland China. The mental health services system has developed rapidly as a part of the profound socioeconomic changes that ensued. However, its development has not been as substantial as other areas of medical care. For the current qualitative systematic review, we searched databases, including China Biology Medicine disc, Weipu, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang digital periodical full text data, China's important newspaper full text database, China Statistical Yearbook database, etc. The content of primary research, literature, and policy papers about the evolution and development of Chinese mental health services was systemically reviewed and analysed by using thematic analysis. Two main themes relative to the necessity and feasibility of reforming the current mental health services system emerged. We discuss 5 corresponding subthemes under the umbrella of the necessity of improving the current treatment, rehabilitation, prevention, and service systems and 7 requirements for the feasibility of reforming the current system. We conclude that as the development of the Chinese economy and the spirit of humanistic care continue, the improvement and reformation of the mental health services system are both necessary and feasible.

Relationship between types of food choice motives and well‐being among young and middle‐aged Chinese adults

“…Compared with other age groups, young and middle‐aged adults have relatively higher stability and autonomy in food choices (Batis et al, ; Ma, ; Roos, Lehto & Ray, ). Moreover, with the social changes and rapid economic growth of mainland China, young and middle‐aged adults suffer more than before from serious eating‐related health problems such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes, with negative effects on their well‐being (Batis et al, ; Wang, Wang, Xue, & Qu, ; Zhao, Liu, Hu, Chen, & Sun, ). Additionally, young and middle‐aged adults are the main force behind Chinese food consumption, making up the largest market segment in mainland China (Wang et al, ; Zhang, Dagevos, He, Van der Lans, & Zhai, ).…”

Assessing the Association of Food Preferences and Self-Reported Psychological Well-Being among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Contemporary China-Results from the China Health and Nutrition Survey

“…With the hope of reducing mental health problems, the Chinese central government has established plans to promote mental health knowledge, reduce stigma, increase financial support for mental services, and develop psychological well-being services [ 9 ]. One of the latest developments in China is the provision of psychological well-being services, which aims to emphasize the importance of other aspects of mental health issues besides psychiatry [ 9 ]. This psychological well-being management plan aims to help individuals with mental problems, but it also supports the general population with specific needs [ 9 ].…”

“…One of the latest developments in China is the provision of psychological well-being services, which aims to emphasize the importance of other aspects of mental health issues besides psychiatry [ 9 ]. This psychological well-being management plan aims to help individuals with mental problems, but it also supports the general population with specific needs [ 9 ]. However, research related to psychological well-being remains scarce in China.…”

Opportunities, risks and challenges in global mental health and population neuroscience: a case of Sino-German cooperation

“…3.2.4 and 3.2.5; https ://apps.who.int/iris/bitst ream/handl e/10665 /27273 5/97892 41514 019-eng.pdf?ua=1). Meanwhile, there are few social workers and psychotherapists in medical institutions, and the clinicians have nearly no time to communicate with patients and their families [52]. Moreover, psychiatric hospitals are generally poorly equipped and overcrowded compared to other medical facilities in China.…”