Launched on January 1, 2025, Hotline 12356 is a nationwide mental health assistance service operated by China's National Health Commission (NHC). The hotline aims to provide timely psychological support and crisis intervention for those in need.

The NHC has designated 2025–2027 as the "Years of Pediatric and Mental Health Services." One of its key initiatives is to establish a nationwide unified hotline network to enhance access to mental health resources.

By May 1, 2025, all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities had launched the 12356 hotline. Since its inception, the service has handled more than 500,000 calls, according to China Youth Daily.

In Beijing, trained operators work in shifts to provide round-the-clock psychological support. CGTN spoke with Shao Xiao, a psychotherapist at Beijing Anding Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, who also serves as a night-shift operator on the hotline, to gain first-hand insight into the emotional struggles people face at different stages of life.

"Most of our calls are related to depression and anxiety," said Shao. "Some come from young people overwhelmed by academic or workplace pressure, while others are from older adults coping with loneliness or from parents concerned about their children's mental health."

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 54 million people in China live with depression and about 41 million with anxiety disorders, representing a significant share of the country's 1.4 billion population.

As China strengthens its mental health services, hotlines like 12356 are becoming an essential resource – helping people recognize that seeking support is not a sign of weakness but a step towards healing.

October 10 marks World Mental Health Day, a WHO initiative to raise global awareness of mental health issues and mobilize support for those in need.

Executive producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Directors: Li Yue, Chen Hongyu, Du Junzhi

Video editor: Li Yue

Videographers: Zhao Wenting, Li Yue

Cover photo: Jia Jieqiong