Even after two decades of economic reforms that have sponsored dramatic social change, China's 1.3 billion people are served by just 13,000 psychiatrists. With little hope of additional government funding for China's crumbling medical system, Zhang spies a healthy business niche. Official estimates say China has 16 million mental patients, but analysts believe the true figure could be at least three times higher. Even government experts admit neurological disorders have outstripped cancer, heart and respiratory diseases. In tandem with rising cases of schizophrenia and other neuroses, Chinese are falling prey to depression, insomnia, senile dementia and alcohol and drug abuse.
Suicide rates are among the highest in the world.
When Britain went through the Industrial Revolution, people felt anxious too, but it is much worse in China which is developing so fast, with so many changes at once. In Chairman Mao Zedong's day, political persecution was a daily torment for many Chinese. Nowadays there are fewer ideological pitfalls to dodge, but rampant capitalism produces other pressures. That's because they are angry and stressed. The economy is developing so fast, and life has become faster-paced and more competitive.