Young people can have problems with their minds. Some students become worried because they have to study very hard. Others have trouble getting on well with people like their parents or classmates.
Liu, a Junior 2 student from Hefei, could not understand his teacher and was doing badly in class. He became so worried about it that he started to cut his finger with a knife. Another student, the 14-year-old Yan from Guangzhou, was afraid of exams. She got very worried, and when she looked at the exam paper, she couldn't think of anything.
October 10 was World Mental Health Day (世界精神卫生日). A recent report from Jiefang Daily (《解放日报》) said about18 percent of Shanghai teens have mental problems.
Their troubles include being worried, very unhappy or having problems in learning and getting on well with other people.
According to experts, children from troubled families are most likely to become ill. More boys than girls have mental problems.
Yu Zhengrong, a doctor at Yangsi School in Shanghai, said Junior 1 students often start to have problems when they begin at a new school.
Many students who have problems won't go for advice or help. Some think they will look stupid if they go to a doctor, and others don't want to tell their secrets.
Liang Yuezhu, an expert on teenagers from Beijing Anding Hospital, has the following advice for teens:
Talk to your parents or teachers often.
Join in group activities and play sports.
Go to see a doctor if you feel unhappy or unwell.
