Sichuan addresses post-disaster mental health  

四川省卫生厅：震后心理抚慰需依靠全社会

四川省卫生厅厅长沈骥在22日下午举行的发布会回答记者提问时表示，“4·20”芦山强烈地震的灾后心理疏导和抚慰需要依靠整个社会的力量展开。

Chengdu (CNS) -- Post-disaster psychological assistance for people who have suffered from the earthquake in Ya'an, Sichuan province, requires a joint effort from all of society, according to the Sichuan Provincial Health Bureau on Monday.

Psychological counseling and comfort is an urgent task in the wake of natural disasters, said Shen Ji, director of the bureau, at a press conference.

"Arrangements have been made to protect the post-disaster mental health of people in Ya'an," Shen said, adding that all medical staff in the area have been ordered to provide psychological support and comfort for local people.

Psychological experts from the West China Hospital and the People's Hospital of Sichuan Province have been sent to the region to provide professional training for medical personnel.

A total of 170,000 medical and health care pamphlets have also been distributed in the area.

Special report: 7.0-magnitude earthquake jolts Ya'an