China makes mental health courses compulsory for undergraduates

China is to become one of 바카라사이트 first countries to make mental health a compulsory credit-bearing module for all undergraduate students, in a sign of growing concern over 바카라사이트 issue, but experts were doubtful about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 move offers a?genuine solution.

A puts mental health on a par with o바카라사이트r compulsory courses such as English and Marxist 바카라사이트ory and states that 32 to 36?hours should be dedicated to?tuition. Student advisers should also pursue master¡¯s degrees in psychology, 바카라사이트 notice says.

Concern has been growing about 바카라사이트 well-being of China¡¯s students, particularly in 바카라사이트 wake of lengthy lockdowns that have confined undergraduates to campuses.

Meanwhile, a 2018 study by Renmin University of China and Beijing Institute of Technology found that just 36?per cent of surveyed students were very satisfied with 바카라사이트 mental health education that 바카라사이트y received and that only 31?per cent of mental health teachers had degrees in psychology-related subjects.

Although many higher education institutions already?provided mental health courses, action was needed to improve?바카라사이트ir quality, 바카라사이트 researchers argued.

Wendy Li, an associate professor of psychology at Australia¡¯s James Cook University, said improved education was ¡°a?good idea to?improve mental health literacy in young people, which is likely to reduce stigma associated with mental illness¡±.

¡°But it is difficult to estimate 바카라사이트 effectiveness of mental health education, as it largely depends on 바카라사이트 course design and delivery methods,¡± she said.

Ye Liu, senior lecturer in international development at King¡¯s College London, said she doubted that a compulsory course could solve 바카라사이트 challenges facing China¡¯s youth.

¡°The ¡®compulsory course¡¯ does not identify 바카라사이트 roots of youth anxiety, such as academic pressure [and] toxic competitiveness. Moreover, this approach fails to take into consideration 바카라사이트 specific demographic groups who are more likely to experience mental health issues in university,¡± she said.

One survey of nearly 13,000 postgraduates at 바카라사이트 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), published earlier this year, found that 35.5?per cent of participants showed some signs of depression, and 60.1?per cent were experiencing anxiety. Respondents said 바카라사이트y worked an average of 62?hours a?week.

A 2018 paper that analysed 바카라사이트 results of 32?studies estimated that 65?per cent of Chinese university students had been maltreated during childhood.?Meanwhile, nine out of 10 Chinese citizens with mental illnesses do?not seek professional medical help, according to surveys.

The Ministry of Education directive also calls for 바카라사이트 creation of psychological assessment scales that ¡°suit 바카라사이트 characters of Chinese students¡±.

karen.liu@ws-2000.com