Liu Minxia

    mllmx@msn.com

    ONE out of 10 Shenzhen adults suffer from sleep disorders and women are more prone to insomnia caused by mental problems than men, a Futian hospital found in a survey.

    Roughly 10.8 percent of Shenzhen residents aged above 15 don't sleep well, suffering mainly from insomnia, according to the Futian Hospital of Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, which is preparing to open an outpatient department for sleep disorders next month.

    The number of female Shenzhen residents suffering from insomnia caused by mental issues, including depression, anxiety, and stress, is more than three times that of males, it said.

    "Due to their social roles, its easier for women to have mental problems, which hampers their sleep quality," said Dr. Wang Kai, a director at the hospital's mental health department.

    "Patients should not just prescribe themselves sleeping pills, which can help them sleep easier and longer for the short term, but also bring health risks." Wang said.

    Patients who have suffered from insomnia for a long time should consult a psychiatrist or psychologist, Wang said.