More than 100 psychiatrists from all over the country are in Sichuan to help the survivors deal with their emotional problems.
More than 100 psychiatrists from all over the country are in Sichuan to help the survivors deal with their emotional problems.
On Saturday, the first team of psychiatrists set off to the provincial capital Chengdu. The fifty psychological therapists are from Anding Hospital. They flew to Sichuan immediately after finishing their work for the train accident in Shandong.
Professor Zheng Yi, Deputy Head of Anding Hospital said "Psychological therapy is essential. Many quake survivors may be suffering from insomnia, fear and panic, and are living in the shadow of the quake. This may affect their life in future. Especially for children and adolescents. Their cognitive ability is insufficient and their psychology is not mature. The younger they are, the more unstable their condition. If they can not adapt and let go off depression, it will affect their life."
En route to Chengdu, the flight crew asked to become part of the team. Professor Zheng said he'd let them know if they need help.
The doctors got to work right after arriving in Dujiangyan.
Professor Zheng Yi said "Some patients are quiet. A lot of people keep silent. The doctors want them to talk, but they refused. The atmosphere is completely depressed. This is really bad."
In a transfer station for victims, one of four rescue teams is working with a family.
They ask the family to have a private talk inside.
Lin Tao, Psychiatrist of Anding Hospital said "From the dialogue, we can see the parents are very nervous. They have nobody to rely on. It's totally understandable. The massive disaster may bring unforeseeable results for the survivors. The familiar, routine life has changed. At this moment, people's psychological state is out of balance."
Zhou Hongwei's mother said "He didn't want to have a nap that day, so the teacher told him to sleep on the sofa. The teachers were all buried in the quake. Only he and another child crawled out. Standing on a board, crying."
Lin Tao said "Children can't express their feeling by words like adults. They aren't yet psychologically mature. But he will use his own way to express his response to the disastrous earthquake."
Zhou Hongwei is four and a half.
Zhou Hongwei's mother said "He won't say anything for four or five hours. He made no response when his brother and uncle called him. He only shakes his head. I think he was scared to death at that time, and can't talk."
Lin Tao said "We ask the whole family to join hands. After the massive disaster, family members can feel strength and energy this way. We found that the child is very happy to do this. He put his parents' hands on his heart and smiled. So we can tell that sometimes children can not express their need by words, but they will use non-verbal messages to reflect what they think and it's colorful. So parents and other adults around the children should catch these messages and meet their needs. For children, it's very important for them to get through such a disaster."
Research shows that ten to twenty percent of disaster survivors suffer psychological problems. And children are the most vulnerable under these circumstances.
(CCTV May 21, 2008)