Sichuan Earthquake Initiatives in China and Canada

In August 2008, Sherlyn Hu, graduate student of the Collaborative Program in Asia Pacific Studies and Faculty of Social Work, coordinated the production and delivery of online trauma counseling training modules for a mental health professional training program held from August 13 to 17 at Chengdu, Sichuan, jointly developed and presented by Asian Institute’s core faculty Professor A. Ka Tat Tsang (Director of the China Project, Faculty of Social Work) in collaboration with Tsinghua University and the Chengdu Municipal Department of Health.

Since the 5/12 Earthquake, Hu has actively involved in coordinating various immediate and longer-term initiatives for Sichuan with the China Project, including a well-received university-community roundtable on June 12, various subsequent work-group meetings, visits to the most-devastated sites in Sichuan, compiling literature and training resources, and liaising with colleagues world-wide who are working directly with the affected people of Sichuan. The aim of the current initiatives is to have more long-term involvement with the affected people in China in ways most responsive to local needs and most conducive to building capacity with respect to mental health and social services in China.

For more information on Sichuan Earthquake initiatives at the China Project, please visit www.chinaprojectsite.com in both English and Chinese.