At the recent 28th International Congress of Psychology in Beijing, Chinese experts appealed for more attention to psychologically vulnerable groups as China's urbanization gathers momentum.

It is estimated that 15 million rural-hukou holders leave their land and flock to the cities for jobs.

Most of them work more than 12 hours a day, seven days a week, discriminated against by the urban residents, under-paid, and have no stable relationships, entertainment or social life. Some live in the constant fear of losing their jobs and not being able to find new work fast enough to support themselves and justify their existence in the city.

"They live in isolation - far from families, no communities, discriminated against by urban neighbors and no relationships. This can cause an emotional breakdown," warned Wang Chunguang, a researcher of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

According to Chen Bing, a psychiatrist from Beijing's Anding Hospital, rural migrant workers are vulnerable to cultural shock, unfair treatment and hard travel to distant cities. In a migrant’s own words, "loneliness, anxiety and depression - these are problems of urban people but everyday reality for us."

Source: Xinhuanews, 19 Aug 2004