A research and assistance center for people with psychological problems opened in Guangzhou yesterday.

Located within the Guangzhou Brain Hospital, the facility will work in cooperation with the government departments for health, social security and civil affairs.

Li Jie, vice-president of the hospital, said that the center had been designed to deal with the growing number of people in Guangdong who suffer from stress and depression.

He said he hoped the center will help also reduce the number of suicide victims in the province.

To ensure instant access to specialists at the center, a hotline (020-81899120) has been set up. It will be open to the public 24 hours a day and calls are charged at local rates, he said.

"Anyone who is worried about a psychological problem can call the hotline to get help from a professional psychological consultant," Li said.

In Guangdong, about 30 to 40 percent of workers suffer from job-related stress. Increased pressure and longer working hours are the main causes of depression and anxiety. And depression can lead to suicide, he said.

Suicide is the fifth leading cause of death in China, and the No. 1 killer of people aged 15 to 34, Li said.

If a psychological problem is not dealt with in a timely manner, it is likely to get worse and that can lead to tragedy, he said.

"The new center provides a channel for people suffering from stress to talk about their feelings," Li said.

The center has recruited seven professional consultants to man the hotline.

As well as taking direct calls they will work with the operators of the 110 and 120 emergency numbers.

Any callers to these who sound suicidal or depressed can be transferred to an operator at the center, Li said.

The hotline is available not only to people with psychological problems, but also those with other concerns, such as family disputes, he said.

In addition, the center has set up a special team of 40 experts to provide immediate support and assistance to people affected by natural disasters or accidents.

"When a natural or man-made disaster occurs, about one-third to a half of the people who witness it will suffer some kind of psychological damage," Li said.

"Women are usually worse affected than men."

He said psychological support was just as important as material relief in the wake of a disaster.

Li said by working with government departments the center will be able to keep up to date with the latest developments in psychological healthcare, which will help it provide the best possible assistance to people across the province.

(China Daily October 31, 2007)