Quake kids need psychological support

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 12-26-2008 13:37

Click for more news in News Hour>>

According to official estimates, up to 9,000 teachers and students were among the nearly 70,000 people killed in the earthquake. Seven months on, many survivors are suffering from post traumatic stress.

Nearly every day, children at Hongbai town come to the Child  Friendly Space.

In today's special series Revisiting Wenchuan, Han Bin looks at how much pain remains with the children. He finds out that psychological support is crucial for both the young survivors and their family members.  

Nearly every day, children at Hongbai town come to the Child Friendly Space. The joint government-UNICEF project provides psychological aid for the young quake survivors.

5 yea-old Li Wenxiang lost his father. Many of the other children have a similar tragedy. Under the special care of the teachers, Li Wenxiang has started to come out of his shell.

Lian Shengqiong, teacher of Child Friendly Space, said, When Li Wenxiang first came here, he was timid and afraid to do anything. He refused to play with other kids. Now, he looks much better and even wants to say hello to us."

The idea that trauma can be treated is alien to many in rural China. But the continuing stress that the survivors experience has prompted the government to seek western counseling methods. And this has brought Chen Xuefeng, a psychological specialist with UNICEF, here.