China Philanthropy

A 5 Minute Guide to Mental Health in China

In the past year new information has emerged concerning the state of mental healthcare and the mentally ill in China. According to the World Health Organization, mental illness supersedes heart disease and cancer as the most taxing health concern in China’s healthcare system. An estimated 100 million people in China have some type of mental disorder although some say this number is likely higher due to the dearth of information available and the lack of public awareness regarding mental illness. Xinhua reports that “twenty percent of all ailments and injury-led disabilities in China” are caused by mental illness. Dr. Huang Yueqin, director of the National Center for Mental Health, told Telegraph that she estimates only about 5 percent of those with illnesses are aware of it and receive treatment. (It is important to note the range of illnesses covered under these statistics, which include anxiety and Internet addiction as well as depression and schizophrenia.)

2009 First Half-Year Report on Charitable Donations in China

Recently, the China Charity and Donation Information Center released the 2009 First Half-Year Report on Charitable Donations in China. The report provided macro data of philanthropy given to Chinese charitable causes including the total size of donations, the portion of donations received from overseas sources, a breakdown of donations received by each charitable sector, and a demographic of donors. Below I summarize some important findings from the report.

A Look at Smoking in China

China is ssssmokin’: tobacco that is. The country has more smokers than any other country in the world. If you don’t smoke in China, then you’re inevitably sucking in harmful second-hand smoke. With 350 million smokers and 540 million occasional smokers, China has a huge tobacco trade. Here are a few staggering statistics from the Tobacco Free Center:

Healthcare for China’s Kids: An Interview with Ellen Luo of the United Foundation for Chinese Orphans

Created in 2001 as the philanthropic branch of United Family Hospitals (UFH) the United Foundation for Chinese Orphans (UFCO) offers underprivileged kids one of the most basic, but also most important aspects of human life—health. Partnering with local organizations, UFCO provides medical services, modern healthcare, and training through UFH, as well as, funding for medical services that the cannot provide. UFCO currently operates in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. They partner with organizations like Baobei Foundation and Bethel Training Center for the Blind which have been featured in SVG newsletters and blog posts.  New York native Ellen Luo recently came on as UFCO’s Executive Director. She discussed UFCO’s mission, goals, and CSR with us.