Background to the 686 Program: The Context for China
China, as every other country, is facing a growing burden of mental disorders. A 2004 report from The Chinese Ministry of Health states that mental illness accounts for 20 percent of diseases in China and will rise to a quarter by 2020. A recent national epidemiological survey has estimated that there are about 16 million people with a serious mental illness alone in China. (This does not include people with depression and other high prevalence mental health disorders). This number is likely to increase as the effects of globalisation continue to break down traditional family structures and coping mechanisms become more fragile for individuals and communities, both in urban and rural areas, that are themselves rapidly urbanising.
Following the SARS epidemic in 2003, China recognised the importance of rebuilding its public health system and this was the impetus to develop in particular its community health sector. Subsequently, China invested 3.7 billion RMB into its 200+ public health programs.
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