Mental Health in Asia: Social Improvements and Challenges

Wen-Shing Tseng, Keisuke Ebata, Kwang-Iel Kim, Wolfgang Krahl, Ee Heok Kua, Qiuyun Lu, Yucun Shen, Eng-Seong Tan and Ming-Jen Yang
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Wen-Shing Tseng: Department of Psychiatry, University of Hawaii School of Medicine, 1356 Lusitana Street, Honolulu HI, 96813 USA
Keisuke Ebata: Tokyo Metropolitan Central Area Comprehensive Mental Health Center, Tokyo, Japan
Kwang-Iel Kim: Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
Wolfgang Krahl: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ee Heok Kua: Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Qiuyun Lu: Institute of Mental Health, Beijing University, Beijing, China
Yucun Shen: Institute of Mental Health, Beijing University, Beijing, China
Eng-Seong Tan: Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Ming-Jen Yang: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gun Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2001, vol. 47, issue 1, 8-23

Abstract: Remarkable improvements in economic conditions and a considerable upgrade in the quality of life have been observed in many parts of Asia during the past several decades. At the same time, many mental health challenges face the people of Asia. Various social mental health indexes are reviewed here, with available data from China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and other Asian societies. The data are compared with data from the United States, Australia in the Pacific Rim, and some other Western countries to examine patterns of similarity or difference between East and West in the process of modernization. Common trends in mental health issues associated with rapid sociocultural change observed in different Asian societies are discussed, as well as the relative shortage of mental health personnel available in many Asian societies. It is emphasized that, in addition to expanding psychiatric services, there is an even more urgent need to promote mental health knowledge and concern through education in the general population. Mental health needs to be cultivated and maintained by social forces and cultural strengths. It is stressed that there is a challenge for Asian people to advance mental health beyond economic development in the 21st century.

Date: 2001
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:47:y:2001:i:1:p:8-23

DOI: 10.1177/002076400104700102

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