The Economist.
Life in China can be stressful.
In a highly competitive society that has undergone rapid economic and social change,
there were nearly 200 million cases of mental disorder in 2023.
Yet mental disorders have long been taboo.
Under Mao, the mentally ill were seen as betraying the socialist cause.
Struggling family members were often hidden away.
Even in recent years, China has made sure
that those it deemed severely mentally ill were locked away before big official events.
Fortunately, attitudes in the country are changing.
While older generations may still be uncomfortable talking about it,
a growing number of young people are seeking therapy.
China's leaders are also changing their tune.
They want to build a national system of psychological support and crisis intervention by 2030,
overhauling mental health services to make them more accessible and more affordable.
That same system could make locking away some of China's most vulnerable even easier.
I'm Sarah Wu, The Economist's China correspondent based in Beijing.
And this week on Drum Tower, we're asking:
How are attitudes towards mental health changing in China?
This is Drum Tower from The Economist.