Over 30 million youngsters in China under 17 suffer from psychological problems but this doesn't receive a great deal of attention from their parents, said an official of the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau on Monday.
Beijing Evening News reported that spokeswoman for the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau, Deng Xiaohong, said the mental problems of students led to difficulties in interpersonal relationships, emotional stability and education.
Deng said according to a study conducted in the capital 32% of Beijing primary and middle school students had mental problems but 80% of those suffering were overlooked by parents and schools.
She said the best way to prevent psychological problems arising lay with families. The same survey showed that 50% of children had psychological difficulties due to their family circumstances and 70% of parents didn't instruct their children particularly well.
Children with psychological problems typically tend to be anxious, unwilling to go to school, are antisocial, lose their tempers quickly and can be quiet. On occasions their problems can manifest themselves as physical illnesses.
Parents require to learn more about child psychology and take note of their child's intelligence and hobbies so they can assist prevent them developing psychological problems, Deng said. If children were mentally ill parents should take them to specialized hospitals as soon as possible, she advised.
(CRI February 6, 2007)
