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Counselors help Sichuan heal
By Qian Yanfeng and Zhang Haizhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-31 07:47
More needs to be done But some forms of philanthropic support with negative consequences have compromised the counselors' work. Receiving donations covered with advertisements makes some students feel companies are using them for public relations purposes, Zhang said, adding some firms seem to have taken advantage of the disaster to polish their images. "Students complain to me that they often receive exceptionally large outfits that are obviously not intended for students," she said. "They feel hurt. And those donations are constantly reminding them they are quake victims who need public sympathy. "I think more reason and love is needed in such public support; otherwise, it will only harm the students. "In a way, we all should assume responsibility for the successful psychological healing of quake victims." Zhang also said the number of professional mental health counselors in the quake zone is limited, and more are needed. Huang Guoping, doctor of clinical psychology and director of the Psychological Crisis Intervention Center at Mianyang's No 3 People's Hospital, agreed. Developing a nationwide network for psychological counseling and intervention is needed, because there has been an acute shortage of professional counselors who can really address quake victims' needs, he said. "That could be achieved by promoting mental health education among the public and improving professional workers' training," Huang said. "Once the public cultivates a proper understanding of psychological counseling, they will come to us when they face problems. And we also need professionals who are actually doctors to heal their wounds."
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