For residents troubled by mental illness, now they can get professional medical help within their neighborhood. Shanghai started to promote community-based consulting services in three communities last year.

And as our Shanghai correspondent Zhou Jing finds out, the initiative has been well-received.

Reporter:

There has long been tension between Li Mei and her adopted daughter, who often quarrel over trivial things. The 82-year-old suffers from insomnia, however to save face, the old lady seldom talks about her trouble with others. When a mental health service home recently opened in her Daning Community neighborhood she sought help.

I've talked to Dr. Zhu there several times. To be able to find a good listener and advisor is a great relief to me.

According to statistics, an astonishing 80 percent of urbanites are suffering from affective disorders such as depression, phobias, self-contempt and addictions. Communities are the living environment of residents. And successful experiences from other cities like Hong Kong tell local governments that providing community based services is a good way to tackle the problem.

The experimental work started in three of Shanghai's communities last year. One mental health care house was established in each community equipped with a professional psychiatry team. And free psychological counseling has officially been included in Shanghai's community health care system. Yang Yeqing is an official with the Daning Community Committee.

The professional help and treatment has solved the problems of our residents. The community has become more harmonious.

Months after the experimental service began only in Liangcheng Community, over 700 conflicts between family members and neighbors have been settled; over 100 school-weary children 100 have returned to class; and about 300 jobless young people and laid-off workers have been encouraged to find new jobs.

Non-professional people like community committee staff and volunteers in the neighborhoods are also receiving training so that they can also be of help.

The local government has vowed to promote the accomplishments in the three communities across the city. And their future plan involves encouraging troubled residents to face their problems and go to the mental health care houses.

For China Drive, I'm Zhou Jing. Zhou Jing, CRI News, Shanghai.