Mental counseling for trauma made a priority

In the aftermath of the mudslide that struck Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, psychological support for the families of the deceased and missing, as well as local residents and rescue workers, has been prioritized, officials announced on Wednesday.

Following the landslide on Aug 26, Shigatse authorities swiftly formed a response team and developed a comprehensive plan to manage the aftermath, proactively reaching out to the families of the missing, said Wang Fanghong, deputy head of the disaster emergency and rescue command headquarters and Communist Party of China chief of Shigatse.

So far, 587 family members have received accommodation and assistance, including 253 cases related to domestic individuals reported as missing or deceased, Wang revealed.

A team of 70 professionals has been assigned to provide psychological counseling to these families, offering care and assistance 1,107 times. Additionally, 1,220 personnel have been organized to support these services, he added.

Four dedicated phone lines have also been established to offer consultation services to families of missing and deceased individuals both domestically and internationally. These lines have received 876 calls — 448 from China and 428 from abroad — with all inquiries documented for follow-up responses, Wang said.

"Ongoing care and support will be provided to the families of the deceased and missing," he added.

Tan Xiangdong, Party chief of the Xizang autonomous regional health commission, emphasized the importance of psychological support, acknowledging the deep trauma caused by the mudslide. "We have prioritized psychological support by developing plans for counseling and crisis intervention," he said, noting tailored mental health services are being provided to address the specific needs of different affected groups.

In collaboration with the National Health Commission and other provinces and cities, over 210 psychological assistance experts have been selected and are on standby to respond to the needs of the disaster-stricken areas, ensuring the sustainability of psychological aid, he said.

Local medical professionals, particularly Tibetan doctors, have been leveraged, and specialists with strong foreign language skills have been appointed to communicate with the families of missing foreign nationals, he added.

Psychological support is also being provided to local residents and rescue workers. At each disaster relocation site, Tan said, at least four medical staff have been assigned to ensure the presence of healthcare professionals, disease control personnel, mobile medical services, medication availability, and psychological care.

"A bilingual Chinese-Tibetan pocket guide for psychological self-help has been developed to address various post-disaster stress reactions," he specified. "Interventions are conducted through listening, companionship, guidance and comfort, with one-on-one interventions and continuous follow-ups provided for specific families."

As of noon Wednesday, a total of 966 psychological comfort and emotional support sessions had been conducted for the residents at the relocation sites, he revealed.

For rescue workers, psychological risk assessments are conducted promptly, providing necessary group and individual counseling. A pocket guide for psychological self-help specifically for front-line rescue workers has been developed to help them understand emergency responses and how to manage them, he said, adding that a hotline — 12356 — has also been established for psychological services.

Contact the writers at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn