Depression threatens nearly 30 percent of China's youth

(Photo/People's Daily Overseas Edition)

Recently, research conducted by the China Youth & Children Research Center and the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed that nearly 30 percent of young people aged between 14 and 35 are in danger of becoming depressed, with 8.1 percent considered high risk.

Compared with research carried out in 2008, the situation is getting worse. In 2008, 75.8 percent of young people were free from depression. However, in 2019, only 70.5 percent show no depressive tendencies, with 21.4 percent in danger of becoming depressed.

While 7.4 percent of respondents were highly likely to become depressed in 2008, that figure has risen to 8.1 percent in 2019. Also, it seems depression is more likely to affect men. 9.1 percent of male respondents were considered high risk, with 7.2 percent of women ranking the same.

Divided into middle school students, university students and office workers, the results show that more middle school students suffer from anxiety compared with the two other groups, with 5.5 percent reporting severe anxiety compared with 3.9 percent among university students and 5.2 percent among office workers.

Pressure comes from three primary sources, financial situation, career and school work.

For office workers, financial pressure is the main burden, with 72.1 percent of respondents citing it as their main concern. For middle school and university students, schoolwork tops the charts, with 88.7 percent and 77.3 percent of respective groups noting it as their number one cause of anxiety.

Young people note that effective ways to ease pressure and soothe anxiety include talking with others about their worries (43.9 percent), seeking advice from their families and friends (35.4 percent) and participating in activities (31.7 percent).

According to respondents, useless ways to release pressure include suppressing anxiety (64.4 percent), having a rest and leaving the problem alone (30.1 percent) and cigarettes, alcohol or food (20.8 percent).