Crossing the river stone by stone : developing an expanded school mental health network in post-quake Sichuan

Abstract

This paper chronicles and consolidates my personal experience and professional journey in China in the past one year after the 512 Sichuan earthquake erupted on 12 May 2008. Several summer children projects I helped to organize had evolved into an expanded school mental health network. As I critically reflect on the pertinent issues in developing professional school social work practice in Sichuan, I shall also outline the challenges and opportunities of relief work in China’s context, drawing from the systems perspective. Maximizing available local resources and facilitating the natural development of support network seems to be a useful approach in disaster recoverywork. Furthermore, the need for professionals, especially outsiders, to be respectful and be culturally sensitive is valuable.