The theme of this year's World Mental Health Day on October 10 was: "Mental and physical health across a life span". It emphasized the necessity of recognizing the importance of the issue of mentel health at every stage of life - as a child, adolescent and adult.

The theme may have been a bit too advanced for China. According to the China Association of Mental Health, more than 26 million Chinese suffer from melancholia but 62.9 percent of them have never asked a doctor for help.

People don't even know they are living under the shadow of a mental disease which can become a dangerous incentive to committing suicide. The problem lies in the mistaken belief that people themselves can control emotional disturbances. On top of that, many Chinese people still regard having a mental disease as something shameful.

It may take some time for people to accept that having a mental illness might be just as normal as having a cold. But the treatment can't be delayed as it may become a matter of life and death. Society as a whole needs to care for those who may still not fully recognize the issue. Better education is the key.

When people pursue good health, they should keep in mind that there is no health without mental health.

melancholia  n. 精神忧郁症       incentive  n. 动机
commit suicice  v. 自杀　 World Mental Health Day  n. 世界精神健康日