Henan

By May 1, China had launched the nationwide psychological support hotline, "12356", aimed at improving the accessibility and standardization of mental health services across the country.

The Psychological Health Center at the 8th People's Hospital of Zhengzhou in Henan province was among the first institutions to join the initiative, integrating the "12356"hotline into its existing services as early as January. "Since then, the number of calls has more than doubled," said Zhang Lixia, the center's director.

Since 2022, Henan has prioritized extending adolescent mental health services to villages and communities in its annual key livelihood projects for four consecutive years.

Zhang explained that the center currently employs 22 professional counselors to manage the hotline. More than 200 doctors and experts from the hospital are available for backup support during crisis interventions.

Wu Hengqian, a 29-year-old counselor at the hospital, has answered over 1,000 calls during his five years of service. He describes the hotline as a "bandage" for the soul.

"Traditional counseling often requires a weeklong wait for an appointment, but the hotline offers immediate, anonymous, and free support," he said.