Before I came to China, I heard that China did not place much emphasis on mental health. As a college student that has struggled with anxiety for years, I hoped to have conversations in China about how mental health is addressed or ignored in Chinese society. Through conversations with my Chinese friends, I have learned that China is increasingly promoting mental health wellness and addressing mental health issues throughout society.
Similar to other societies around the world, people in China struggle with anxiety and depression--among other mental health issues. Even when people do not struggle with mental health issues, mental wellness is an important factor to be emphasized throughout societies because it affects everyone's quality of life. Through speaking with my Chinese friends, I learned that there is an increasing need in China for mental health support and awareness.
In particular, there are increasing rates of mental health issues among Chinese students. With much pressure placed on school resulting from fierce competition in China's education system and high expectations from parents, mental wellness is an increasing need for Chinese students.
