It is reported that 90 million people in China suffer from depression, with around 90% not getting any effective treatment. Other research further suggests that mental disorders have generally become more common across China in the last 30 years.

China’s resources for dealing with mental health have not always been at the same level as other countries. A 2020 WHO report showed that there were only 1.7 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, compared with 15 per 100,000 in the European countries.

In the past, mental health support was largely focused on specific groups such as “left-behind children”. However, many now recognize the need to make support more widely available.

One issue that has helped bring mental health into the spotlight on a national scale is that of “996” work culture. The term refers to jobs in which employees are required to work six days per week from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. With the 996-work culture, more and more people are starting to realize that actually, mental health can affect a whole number of people. As we all know, long hours of overtime may cause many health problems, even leading to sudden death.

Our government is indeed designing policies to deal more effectively with mental health challenges. The country’s National Health Commission plans to introduce screening (筛查) for vulnerable groups and require medical institutions as well as universities, colleges and high schools to re evaluate mental health policies. The government plans to set up mental health outpatient services in 40% of the general hospitals in pilot areas by the end of 2022, a move catalyzed by the pandemic.

Whether said policies will be effectively implemented remains to be seen. However, what is clear is that mental health is now very much taken seriously across China.

【小题1】What do we know from the first two paragraphs?

A．China’s medical level is quite backward.

B．Mental health problems are getting more serious.

C．China has the largest population with depression.

D．Many people with depression refuse to be treated.

【小题2】What does the underlined word “psychiatrists” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Doctors.	B．Professors.
C．Researchers.	D．Patients.

【小题3】What can we learn about the 996-work culture?

A．It is well received by employees.	B．It severely affects people’s health.
C．It can make people work even harder.	D．It does harm to “left-behind children”.

【小题4】What measures our government going to take?

A．Cooperating with medical institutions.	B．Establishing more voluntary organizations.
C．Setting up outpatient services in pilot areas.	D．Designing policies to deal with the challenges.