Some residents in China's capital will consult specialists about emotional disorders on-line as of Monday. They will acquire guidance on medical treatment, medicine usage and recovery from the experts through the "face-to-face" communication.

According to sources with the municipal health authorities, Beijing has recently built its first community-based on-line consultation network for mental disorders. The network now covers 42 communities in Chaoyang District of eastern Beijing.

The sources said there are now approximately 100,000 residents above 15 years of age, or about one percent of the city's total population, who suffer from mental disorders in Beijing.

It is believed that the establishment of the community-based Internet "hospital" will provide easy and timely access to expertsfor new patients, and allow old patients to gain timely adjustments in medical treatment in line with changes in their ailments.

Beijing's latest survey of depression and other emotional disorders found that the top three emotional disorders are depression, schizophrennia and senile dementia.

The survey also show that 71.8 percent of the respondents lack knowledge about mental disorders. Poor awareness delays diagnosis and professional medical treatment. 
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2005)