Number and characteristics of medical professionals working in Chinese mental health facilities

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders account for a substantial proportion of the total disease burden in China but the number, distribution and characteristics of the mental health professionals available to provide services for mentally ill individuals is unknown. AIM: Describe the distribution and characteristics of medical professionals working in mental health facilities around China. METHODS: Information on the numbers and characteristics of health professionals working in mental health facilities in China in 2010 was obtained from the Statistical Information Center of the Ministry of Health and the population-adjusted ratios and characteristics of these mental health professionals were compared across the seven geographic regions of the country. RESULTS: Among the 757 specialized mental health facilities identified, 649 (86%) were psychiatric hospitals. A total of 68,796 medical professionals (5.16/100,000 population) were working in these facilities, including 20,480 psychiatrists (1.54/100,000) and 35,337 registered nurses (2.65/100,000). Over 98% of these medical professionals worked in psychiatric hospitals. Among the psychiatrists, 29% only had a technical school degree and 14% had no academic degree at all; among the nurses, 46% had no academic qualifications. The duration of employment as a psychiatrist or as a psychiatric nurse was longer among medical professionals working in the economically less dynamic northern parts of the country. The population ratios of licensed physicians and registered nurses working in mental health facilities were significantly higher than average in the relatively wealthy eastern and northeastern parts of the country. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all mental health professionals in China work in specialty psychiatric hospitals. The numbers and geographic distribution of trained mental health professionals in China are grossly inadequate to meet the mental health needs of the population. China has a much smaller mental health workforce per 100,000 residents than other upper-middle-income countries, and the range of professionals who provide mental health services is much narrower.