A mental health crisis pervades college campuses where students' psychological problems stem from poverty, anxiety over test scores, the crowded job market, uncertain career prospects and other issues, the NPC was told.

Free mental health services should be expanded, the legislature was advised.

"Neither students nor schools are well prepared for the mental crisis prevailing on campus," which has forced three students to commit suicide at a university in Guangdong Province, said Zheng Ya. He is an NPC deputy and an official with the Nanjing University of Science and Engineering in Jiangsu Province. Other lawmakers called for better mental health services on campus.

Lawmakers were told psychological intervention should be free for college students to help resolve mental and emotional problems, especially those driven by a widening disparity between rich and poor students.

The student wealth gap has become increasingly prominent in recent years.

Those with affluent families are lavish in spending and enjoy absolute psychological advantages. However, needy students always feel inferior, though they complete studies with social and school subsidies.

Some 1 million impoverished students have been enrolled, about 10 to 15 percent of the total of college students, according to the Ministry of Education.

Rich students spend an average 1,000 yuan (US$125) in monthly consumption, while poor students' spending is as low as 100 yuan a month.

Finding a job has been another cause of anxiety for recent college graduates.

College students who once felt assured of their careers are increasingly frustrated by rising unemployment, according to Gu Xiaosong. He is an NPC deputy from another Jiangsu university.

Nearly 930,000 students failed to sign working contracts after graduating in 2005, accounting for about 27.6 percent of the 3.38 million graduates.

A record 4.13 million students nationwide are expected to graduate this summer, up 730,000 over last year and 1.15 million more than in 2001, said the Ministry of Education.

About 27 million students will graduate between 2006 and 2010, an annual hike of at least 700,000.

"Many universities are offering psychological counselling services, but more efforts should be made to prevent the occurrence of serious problems," Gu urged, on the sidelines of the NPC.

Jobs, the economy and test scores are among the top causes of psychological problems among college students, followed by social communication and sentimental problems, according to a survey by a Guangdong psychological committee advising universities.