Chinese President Jiang Zemin has called on all of the society to help create a better environment for people with psychological illnesses.

Jiang, who is currently on a six-nation tour of Latin America, made the remarks in a letter to Gro Harlem Brundtland, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO).

His message was read at a seminar held by the Ministry of Health in Beijing to mark World Health Day 2001 on Saturday.

This year's day was dedicated to mental health under the theme: "Stop exclusion, dare to care."

A nationwide survey shows that in recent years Chinese people have become increasingly vulnerable to such illnesses as depression, neurosis, alcoholism, drug dependence and senile dementia, Health Minister Zhang Wenkang said at the seminar.

Official statistics indicate that roughly 16 million Chinese are currently suffering from mental disorders.

Now, China has established a basic framework for mental health care to be applied by health organizations and professionals, the minister noted.

However, there is a gap between services and the demand for mental health care, especially in some remote rural areas.

People affected by mental disorders often suffer from discrimination because of a misunderstandings about their conditions.

Experts at the seminar said people who recover from a mental illness often found it hard to gain employment.

Zhang said that educating the public about mental health must be done gradually to eliminate the stigma suffered by those with mental disorders, and create a humanitarian social environment to care for psychiatric patients.

Meanwhile, the ministry will speed up the process of drafting the country's first mental health law to protect the legal rights of the patients and doctors.

In recognition of the growing burden of mental illness, the Ministry of Health is rapidly drafting the National Mental Health Programme (2001-05) to deepen reform of the present system of mental health care.

Under the programme, the country will popularize the new psychiatric rehabilitation model which is open, community-based and comprehensive, and broaden the coverage of mental health services.

　　From China Daily