A proposal received by the seventh congress of Beijing Association of Science and Technology held recently attracted a lot of attention. In this proposal "Concerns about the mental health of the children of farm workers", experts from the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) Institute of Psychology pointed out: "The children of migrant workers have serious mental health problems. It is recommended that basic telephone expenses be provided, guiding migrant workers who have children for scientific and effective parent-child communication."

After the reform and opening up, more and more farmers left their villages to work in cities, joining the ranks of migrant workers. Many of their children become unattended children. According to official statistics, China has about 20 million unattended children.

So, "provision of basic telephone expenses" for psychological intervention for unattended children undoubtedly is necessary, but it is not enough. The mental health of unattended children cannot be addressed through several telephone calls a month. They need to stay with their parents, go to school as normal, and live in a more equal social atmosphere where there is concern and care for them and no one is teased.

Concern about the mental health of unattended children is not just their parents' responsibility. It is also the responsibility of the government and society.

First, the government must work hard to improve the income level of migrant farmers so that they have enough economic strength to care for their children and improve their living conditions. Second, we should break the barriers facing the children of farm workers so they can attend school just like other children. Finally, the whole community needs to reach a consensus, give the same love to the children of farm workers as to other children, and try to prevent them from feeling discriminated against.

Patrick Lin

Via e-mail

(China Daily 01/23/2007 page11)