Zhao Lusi shines needed light on China's treatment of mental health
Published: 9:30am, 5 Feb 2025 Actress Zhao Lusi embodies youth and beauty, her dazzling smile and smooth complexion giving no hint of life's hardships. Yet, last month Zhao shared a deeply personal revelation on social media: she has been battling mental health issues , including depression and anxiety.
In her heartfelt post, she recounted how she began experiencing symptoms several years ago but initially ignored them, fearing she would disappoint her family, friends and fans. The relentless demands of her career took a toll on her well-being, affecting both her mental and neurological health. After undergoing treatment, Zhao's condition has significantly improved. Her openness has sparked widespread public discussion, shedding light on the immense pressures faced by those in the entertainment industry and, more importantly, on the urgent need for greater mental health awareness. Many people online praised her courage, seeing it as a step towards ending the stigma around mental illness in Chinese society.
I must add my voice to those applauding her. We need to talk about mental health in China.
According to a 2017 World Health Organization report, an estimated 54 million people in China suffer from depression while 41 million struggle with anxiety disorders. Further estimates suggest that around 173 million Chinese people have a diagnosable psychiatric condition. Although China does not rank as highly in terms of prevalence compared to high-income countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, the sheer number of affected individuals presents an immense challenge. Mental health services remain severely limited: the US has about 12 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, while in China the ratio is just 1.7 per 100,000.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
HKFP
04-06-2025
- HKFP
Water Supplies Department ‘concerned' after reports of residents experiencing diarrhoea amid water quality complaints
The Water Supplies Department has expressed concerns about some residents reportedly suffering from diarrhoea after unknown black particles were found in drinking water at two government housing estates in Fanling. The department said on its Facebook page on Tuesday evening that it has been closely following the water quality issue at Queen's Hill Estate and the adjacent Shan Lai Court, which shares the same water supply system. 'Today, there were reports that some residents have experienced diarrhoea,' the department's post in Chinese read. 'The Water Supplies Department is extremely concerned.' Drinking water samples at both estates have already been tested and found to meet drinking water standards in Hong Kong, it said. But given complaints from some residents suffering diarrhoea, assessment reports for those water samples have been sent to the Department of Health for evaluation, the department said. At least 11 residents in Shan Lai Court suffered from diarrhoea over the past few days, the Oriental Daily News reported on Tuesday. Water in a supermarket in Queen's Hill Estate was out of stock as residents bought bottled water due to concerns about the quality of tap water, according to the media outlet. The Water Supplies Department received reports starting from last Friday that residents at Queen's Hill Estate, a public housing estate, discovered unidentified black particles in their drinking water. And since last Saturday, the department has also been receiving similar reports from residents at Shan Lai Court, a government subsidised sale estate, the department said in response to local media outlets. 'Won't cause any harm' Roger Wong, the director of water supplies, said on RTHK on Monday that the department found that pipes leading to Queen's Hill Estate were in good condition, with no black particles detected. But black particles were found in the estate's water tank filters, he said. The department has collected water samples for testing and ordered the estate to clean and flush the water tanks, Wong added. 'After days of cleaning and flushing the water tanks, the black particles should have been removed,' Wong said, adding that black particles have also been found in some other public housing estates as well. 'Those are usually inert substances and won't cause any harm to people,' Wong has said.
HKFP
28-05-2025
- HKFP
Nearly half of Hongkongers who lost loved ones to suicide at high risk of PTSD, survey shows
Nearly half of Hongkongers who lost their loved ones to suicide are at high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a survey has found. According to a survey released by the Suicide Prevention Services (SPS), a non-profit organisation, on Tuesday, 47.4 per cent of 154 respondents whose family members died by suicide scored higher than 31 – the cutoff line in a PTSD screening tool. Scores above the cutoff line indicate probable PTSD. Conducted by the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the survey studied those who received SPS services from September 2022 to April 2025 after losing their children, spouses, or siblings to suicide. It also found that those bereaved by suicide struggled with guilt, self-blame, and thoughts questioning the reasons behind the suicides of their loved ones. Amy Chow, a professor at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at HKU and a board member of the SPS, told HKFP on Tuesday that the study showed women were more likely than men to suffer from self-blame, a sense of abandonment, and feeling uncomfortable talking about the reasons for death. Cultural shame and stigma in Chinese communities often lead the bereaved to remain silent, Dr Fang Chun-kai, a senior attending physician in the Department of Psychiatry at MacKay Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, said at a press conference on Tuesday. They face not only overwhelming grief and guilt but also a lack of adequate social support and psychological care, he added. Each suicide incident affects an average of six family members or friends, Fang said. He called on people not to judge those bereaved by suicide. All the respondents received counselling services provided by the SPS, which had a positive impact on their grief symptoms, Chow said, adding that early intervention is critical. 'If we know anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide, even if they only show mild symptoms, please encourage them to seek help,' she said in Cantonese.
RTHK
26-05-2025
- RTHK
National Health Commission has high hopes in HK
National Health Commission has high hopes in HK Cao Xuetao hopes Hong Kong will actively participate in global health governance and deepen pragmatic cooperation in professional fields with the mainland. Photo: RTHK The vice minister of the National Health Commission said on Monday he has full confidence and high hopes in the development of Hong Kong's healthcare industry. Cao Xuetao made the remarks at the opening of the Hospital Authority Convention 2025 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. He expressed the hope that the SAR will actively participate in global health governance. "Amid accelerating global changes not seen in a century, individual countries are keen on unilateralism, posing major challenges to global health cooperation and governance," he said. "The Chinese government firmly supports multilateralism and will keep stepping up its involvement in global health. "The National Health Commission is willing to continue supporting Hong Kong's medical groups and individuals to participate in the nation's medical missions in supporting foreign places and the construction of the Health Silk Road." He also hopes that Hong Kong will deepen pragmatic cooperation in professional fields with the mainland. Cao added the National Health Commission will continue to actively support the SAR government in its administration and in-depth participation in the construction of a healthy nation and Bay Area.
