Shanghai is planning to expand its mental health service to more people by offering early detection and timely intervention in local communities.

Pilot programs have been carried out in local communities in the city's Changning and Minhang district.

Under this, detection of early signs of mental disorders is being improved and related mental health services are being provided to several key groups of people, such as primary and middle school students and people with chronic diseases or in high-stress occupations.

Once diagnosed with a mental disorder, people will receive professional advice or be introduced to psychological or psychiatric hospitals for further treatment.

Earlier, the mental health service mainly focused on people with serious mental health disorders, which is only a small part of the population. Now, mental health services will be available to the entire population, according to the Shanghai Mental Health Center, which is conducting the program.

Shanghai is the first city in the country to conduct mental health screening and provide mental health crisis intervention for children.

According to data from the center, about 15 percent of Chinese at the age of 15 and above suffer some kind of mental disorder, while 30 million children and youngsters have some emotional disorder and behavioral problems.

Another survey led by the mental health expert He Yanling between 2006 and 2009 showed that in Shanghai about one in five local residents suffered some kind of mental problems at some point in their lives and one in eight residents is suffering some kind of mental and behavioral problems.

wanghongyi@chinadaily.com.cn