China has its first batch of professional psychologists following the award of 277 certificates by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security in Beijing on Sunday.
  
The psychologists are qualified to open clinics to provide psychological services to the public.
  
There are three appraisal levels for psychologists: psychological advisers, psychologists and senior psychologists, said Zhang Chun, deputy-director of Beijing Huaxia Psychological Education Center.
 
No certificates for senior psychologists have yet been issued, so the psychologist certificate is currently the highest professional level, Zhang said.
  
The government will further promote appraisal and training work for the nation's psychological services, said Dong Xiaonan, director of the professional technique appraisal center in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
  
About 16 million Chinese are estimated to need help with mental health issues, and about 30 million of the country's 150 million minors suffer from "emotional obstacles," said Guo Nianfeng, director of China Psychological Health Association.
  
There are less than 3,000 people engaged in providing psychological services, while in most developed countries there is one psychological worker for every 1,000 people, Guo said. "China still has a lot to do in improving people's psychological health care," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2005)