Chinese capital Beijing opened its first melancholia treatment center Thursday at Anding Hospital, according to sources with the Beijing psychological health care bureau.

The newly opened melancholia treatment center has 11 experienced experts on treating melancholia who will take shifts from Monday to Friday, with some 40 patients received per day.

The latest survey shows that approximately 300,000 Beijingers are plagued by melancholia, with only 5.8 percent getting treatment.

Hou Yezhi, deputy director of the Beijing psychological health care bureau, acknowledged that it is possible to prevent and cure melancholia, and the most crucial step is to take early action.

About 15 percent of melancholia patients have a tendency to commit suicide.

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2006)