Bereaved government officials in quake-hit areas: resilience

Abstract

Since the catastrophic 512 Sichuan earthquake, government officials have been bearing post-quake reconstruction work stress around the clock. Moreover, a survey conducted to a cohort of 70 officials of a devastated town revealed a striking bereavement rate of 70%. 80% had suffered complicated grief and anxiety, 72.9% PTSD, and 60% depression. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews indicated 53.85% of bereaved officials had been coping with the grief by devoting to intensive workload and seeking support and meanings from work. Using body mind-spiritual approach, a two-day intervention program weaved psychosocial education, stress management and grief therapy throughout the intervention. Its effectiveness was tested via a waiting-list control trial. OBJECTIVES: 1. Be aware and identify hardships and challenges grass-roots government officials are confronted with in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake: enormous workload and severe bereavement as well as a work identity which may delay, inhibit or even disenfranchise their grief. 2. Recognize a double-edged sword effect of work life to grieving processes of grass-roots government officials, namely that despite the suppression of grieving processes, the post-quake relief and reconstruction work provides the values and meanings of life for bereaved officials, contributing to their resilience. 3. Regarding practices, utilize the positive side of the double-edged sword of work life, strengthening the meaning in work to help officials grow more resilient in the processes of grieving and life reconstruction, while applying other therapy methods to resolve issues raised by heavy work stress, thereby facilitating the dual processes of grief.