Care for 'left-behind' kids can no longer be delayed

For the first time, a survey with national significance has focused on the psychological health of children in rural areas who have been "left behind" by their parents who work in cities.

This is significant, as well as necessary, because it will help draw more attention to improving the living conditions for this especially vulnerable young group of children as the country goes through new rounds of urbanization.

The survey, initiated by a non-profit organization and covering six provinces in China's east, central, northeast and southwest regions, found that about 10 million children of migrant workers did not see their parents all year round. Some 2.6 million "left-behind" children do not even have one phone call with their parents in a year.