Many lessons learnt from Wenchuan quake

Trauma victims in need of institutional guarantee

Residents suffering from post-earthquake trauma receive therapy under a treatment program established with policy, financial and technical support from the government, and some nonprofit organizations, local communities and individual psychiatrists. Some trauma patients could need such treatment for up to 20 years before they can fully reintegrate into society.

Mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder caused by disasters have got increasing attention nationwide, especially after the Wenchuan earthquake. Immediate intervention could heal the invisible psychological injuries of the quake survivors and eliminate the possible social risks associated with such trauma.

Thanks to the growing number of professional psychiatrists, the country can now better deal with the rising demand for psychotherapy. In particular, the attitude of the people in the earthquake-affected region has helped the authorities, psychiatrists and medical practitioners to keep the ill effects of post-traumatic stress disorder in China at a much lower level than that in some developed countries.

However, there is a need to expedite the construction of a stronger system to provide psychotherapy and social support for trauma patients in hard-to-reach mountainous areas. Also, adequate funds should be made available to ensure continuous assistance for such people in the coming decade.

Therefore, social awareness about the importance of psychotherapy should be raised, so that more post-traumatic stress disorder patients seek treatment. In addition, institutional and financial guarantees are needed to continue the ongoing assistance program for trauma patients.

Wang Bin, an associate professor at the Law School of Southwest University of Science and Technology