Counseling platform supports mental health of sci-tech workers

An online counseling platform designed specifically for science and technology workers has been operational for nearly three years, handling over 420,000 inquiries through phone calls and messages, according to Tang Yicheng, executive secretary-general of the Psychological Emergency Volunteer Service Group under the China Association for Science and Technology.

Tang, who also serves as a member and secretary of the Popularization Working Committee of the Chinese Psychological Society, said that the hotline was put into use in late May 2022 and now operates daily from 8 am to 2 am, divided into three six-hour shifts.

The platform is accessible via a mini program on WeChat, China's leading social media app.

"More than 100 volunteers take turns to address the mental health needs of science and technology workers," Tang said during an event hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology earlier this month.

"These operators have backgrounds in scientific research and are certified therapists. Their expertise enables them to better understand and empathize with the struggles faced by science workers," he added.

Tang said that science workers often experience cognitive fatigue, which can lead to memory decline, difficulty concentrating and reduced verbal coherence.

"Exhaustion and a lack of creativity during scientific research can further exacerbate their distress, compounded by common challenges in interpersonal relationships and parenting," he noted.

Given the rising number of people experiencing mental health issues, Tang emphasized the need to enhance public psychological science literacy, including improving the ability to recognize signs of psychological problems in oneself and others.

It is also important to train more mental health professionals and expand services at the grassroots level, he added.