In general, at least 30 million Chinese aged 7 to 18 have experienced emotional or behavioral problems. [Photo/VCG] Experts advise clinical treatment for inability to focus during school classes Mental health specialists warned of rising mental health issues among Chinese children and adolescents including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, which now hits roughly 5 percent of them. If left untreated, between 10 to 20 percent of those with ADHD would develop serious symptoms such as underdeveloped speech, defiance, prolonged distress or anxiety, according to experts at a news conference hosted by the National Health Commission on Wednesday. In general, at least 30 million Chinese aged 7 to 18 have experienced emotional or behavioral problems, including ADHD, depression or selfharm, according to Liu Huaqing, head of the clinical psychology department at Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, who cited a report by the China Youth and Children Research Center in 2005. Worse, clinical observations have found a rise in mental health issues among them, he said. He recommended professional diagnosis and treatment, and an enhanced national effort to address the issue. The global picture isn't bright. The World Health Organization estimates that the number of children with mental illnesses will climb 50 percent by 2020, making it one of the five leading causes of disability and death. Because of the social stigma associated with mental disabilities and a lack of public awareness, a mere 20 percent of young people with mental illnesses worldwide get proper treatment. In a choice between psychological counseling and a mental health clinic, I advise the latter, said Cao Qingjiu, head of children's ward at Peking University Sixth Hospital. If a child's anxiety or depression impairs daily functioning, take them to the hospital immediately. In Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, a middle school recently installed closed-circuit TV cameras in classrooms to capture students' facial expressions and behavioral changes to assess their ability to concentrate in class. Cao said security cameras can help identify children with ADHD. A fleeting moment of absence of mind is normal, but if a student keeps fidgeting and can't focus for a long time, he should go see a doctor, he said. Liu, the clinical psychologist, described a phenomenon prevalent among his visitors at the hospital. Two-thirds of my patients were sent far away to their grandparents in early childhood, Liu said. The sense of being abandoned frustrates them and renders them vulnerable to emotional anxiety. Liu added that parents should stay close to their children as much as possible before age 6. No matter how busy you are as a millennial parent, it's your responsibility to rear your children and give them a healthy future. Wang Xiaoyu contributed to this story. silicone bracelets ukpersonalized silicone wristbandsmake your own wristbandwristbands onlinemotivational wristbands for athleteswristbands with a messagebride tribe wristbandscustomize your own braceletmedical bracelets ukwristbandevent wristbands uklogo braceletscustom rubber band braceletssilicone keychainplastic wristbands uk
An employee stacks Johnson& Johnson Neosporin brand boxes on the production line at the J&J consumer healthcare products plant in Lititz, Pennsylvania, the United States. [Photo/Agencies] New drugs developed by pharmaceutical companies from the United States have played an important role in improving healthcare for Chinese, according to China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment. International pharmaceutical companies, including those from the US, have kept investing in research and development of new drugs in China, which has also contributed to improved innovation and research capabilities for domestic pharmaceutical companies, said Zuo Yuzeng, chief for communications at the association's R& D-based Pharmaceutical Association Committee. The committee is comprised of 40 international companies with pharmaceutical research and development capabilities, including 12 from the US, such as MSD and Xian Janssen, he said. The companies have brought many patent drugs to Chinese patients. Many were not available in China before, and have contributed to helping patients relieve pain and prolong life, the committee said. A recent new drug that was introduced to China was Sirturo, developed by Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of US company Johnson& Johnson. The drug, the first new medication for tuberculosis worldwide for the past 45 years, has been administered in China since Feb 24, and initial results showed it is effective for patients with multidrug-resistant TB, according to Wang Bin, deputy head of disease control and prevention for the National Health Commission. Asgar Rangoonwala, president of Xian Janssen, said the drug is now being used at 16 hospitals nationwide in a trial program. In April, China Drug Administration approved a nine-way HPV vaccine, which works against up to nine types of HPV and was developed by US company MSD. A similar vaccine, which was also developed by the company and works against four types of HPV, was approved by the administration in May last year. Previously, no vaccines were available on the Chinese mainland to effectively prevent cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among Chinese women aged 15 to 44 after breast cancer, except a two-way HPV vaccine, driving many women to Hong Kong to receive such vaccines. International pharmaceutical companies have also contributed to improved capacities in innovation and research of domestic companies through increasing research and development in China, partnering with domestic research institutes and providing training, according to R & D-based Pharmaceutical Association Committee. Some domestic international companies in recent years have been developing fast and they are catching up, said Zuo from the committee.
