Just 10 percent of the 30 million Chinese currently suffering from depression are getting proper medical care due to a lack of psychiatrists and social prejudice against mental illness, experts have said.

At a meeting in Shanghai last week, mental health professionals said that China has just 17,000 registered psychiatrists, or one for every 76,000 people.

Most Western countries have a 10-times better ratio.

Hao Wei, vice-director of the Chinese Psychiatrists' Association, said that more than 60 percent of those currently suffering from depression could greatly benefit from proper medication or professional psychiatric help.

"But there are just too few doctors available," Hao said, adding that investment in mental healthcare was also insufficient.

Hao said that about 25 percent of depression cases are first diagnosed by physicians.

"We need to help our physician colleagues recognize the early signs of depression, so that they can refer those patients to psychiatric professionals," Hao said.

However, the greatest problem, Hao said, comes from society, in the shape of the widespread prejudice people have toward those with mental health problems.

Because of public prejudice, many patients are reluctant to visit hospitals specializing in mental care, he said. As a result, 75 percent of all anti-depressants are prescribed by physicians.

Some patients are reluctant to take such pills, as they are concerned about the side effects, Hao said.

The economic cost of depression, in terms of medical bills and lost manpower, is about 60 billion yuan a year, experts said.

A survey conducted recently in Zhejiang and Hebei provinces found that depression was more prevalent in rural communities. Women were also more likely to suffer from it than men, the survey said.

据专家介绍，由于精神治疗医师的缺乏及对于心理疾病社会偏见的存在，在我国目前3000万的抑郁症患者中，仅有10%的人正在接受正规治疗。

出席上周在上海召开的某会议的心理健康专家们说，中国目前仅有1万7千名注册心理医师，即每76000人仅有1名心理医生。

这一比例在大多数西方国家要高出10倍。

中国精神医师协会的副主席郝威说，在目前的抑郁症患者中，超过60%的人通过适当的药物治疗或专业的心理咨询服务可以使抑郁症状大大减轻。

据他介绍，由于在心理保健方面的投资不够，“这方面的医生太少了。”

郝威说，约25%的抑郁症是由内科医生诊断出来的。

他说：“我们要帮助内科医师识别判断抑郁症的早期征兆，这样内科医师便可以建议这些病人向精神科医师求助。”

然而，最大的问题来自于社会上对于心理疾病患者的广泛歧视和偏见。

他说，由于社会歧视的存在，很多病人不愿意去心理疾病专科医院就诊。这造成75%的抗抑郁药物都是由内科医师开具的。

有些病人不愿服用这些药物，因为他们担心这些药会产生副作用。

据专家介绍，从医疗费和损失的人力上来看，抑郁症所造成的年经济损失达到600亿元。

浙江省和河北省近日开展的一项调查发现，抑郁症在农村地区更为普遍。而且女性比男性更容易患抑郁症。