Health
Wednesday, 03 February 2010 03:02
Written by Dr. Gregg Miller

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Don’t suffer in solitude in Shanghai

Living in Shanghai can be a stressful experience at the best of times.  For those carrying an additional burden such as depression, family conflict, addiction or any other psychological challenge the pressure can become unbearable. But don’t suffer alone. If you need mental health services, help is available in Shanghai.

SIMHA, the Shanghai International Mental Health Association (www.s-imha.org) provides the contact information of two dozen English-speaking therapists and counselors.  Lifeline Shanghai, a 24-hour English-speaking telephone hotline (6279 8990), can provide a sympathetic ear and a list of professional resources. The Community Center Shanghai (www.communitycenter.cn) offers counseling for common issues such as anxiety, culture shock and marital tensions. Finally, clinics such as Parkway Health (www.parkwayhealth.cn) and Shanghai United Family Hospitals (www.unitedfamilyhospitals.com) provide a variety of mental health services, including psychiatric medications.

When choosing a mental health professional, ask directly about their training and experience to be sure you get what you need. Educational backgrounds vary, and I know of at least one case of someone fraudulently representing themselves as a trained therapist. Mental health professionals practicing in a facility such as Parkway or Shanghai United have undergone credential verification, and those listed on the SIMHA website have promised to abide by a professional code of conduct.

The list of medicines available in China to treat mental illness is growing, and those from other countries can obtain almost any medication here that they would take back home.  As in the West, psychiatric medications require a prescription and are not legally available over the counter in Shanghai.  Certain dosages of some medications are not available. This means, for example, you might need to split a Chinese-made pill in half in order to obtain the milligram dosage you were previously taking. While anti-depressants and anti-psychotics are easily available with a prescription, it is more difficult to obtain narcotic pain medicines, anti-anxiety medicines and stimulants. The Chinese government often requires physicians to limit these prescriptions to a one-week supply.

Those who need outpatient mental health therapy can find the resources they need in Shanghai, but inpatient residential services are lacking. Though inpatient psychiatric beds are available at Shanghai United Family Hospital and the public Shanghai Mental Health Center in Xuhui, these do not provide the depth of English-speaking services.  People experiencing marked difficulties with substance abuse often need a structured, residential program to overcome addiction. Likewise, people struggling with serious eating disorders sometimes need inpatient care. Unfortunately, Shanghai does not yet offer English-speaking residential programs. If you or someone you care about is dealing with these particular issues, consider looking to another country to find more support.

While there are some limitations, if you are experiencing increasing anxiety, depression, marital conflict or other issues related to mental health, you can get the assistance you need in Shanghai.  You will find trained professionals who are ready and able to help you. All you need to do is take the first step.

Symptoms of depression

There are many symptoms that signify depression. The frequency, duration, and severity of these symptoms will vary depending on the individual:
- Anger and/or irritability
- Persistent sadness, the feeling of being "empty", and anxious
- Loss of interest in everyday activities
- Irritability or restlessness
- Loss of energy
- Concentration problems
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Frequent thoughts of suicide or death
- Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia, in particular during the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping which is also known as hypersomnia)
- Appetite or weight changes (a significant weight gain or loss, by more than 5% of body weight)

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