Thailand will seek help from Japan in expanding relief program and treating post-traumatic stress disorder for tsunami victims, the Mental Health Department has said.

The department will ask Japanese help to train local health professionals, nurses, social workers and psychologists in mental health issues and discuss the issue with Thai Ambassador to Japan next week, said department chief Somchai Chakrabhand.

Following the Dec. 26 fatal waves, about 50,000 Thai fishermen along the coastline area are suffering psychologically, of whom 20 percent are under stress and need continuing care and guidance, Somchai was quoted by Bangkok Post newspaper as saying.

Some 500 psychologists have been sent to the area and about 100 health volunteers were trained to cope with the post-tsunami illness, still it is not enough.

In Phuket, more than 1,000 residents have tsunami-related mental problems, 10 percent of whom had to take medicines. And some of these people even showed the tendency of suicide, Wiwat Seetamanotch, vice Phuket provincial chief medical officer told Xinhua.

Health workers have to frequently visit the patients' homes in a bid to monitor their psychological conditions, said Seetamanotch.

Jonathan Davidson, director of the Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Program at Duke University Medical Center, expected that 50-90 percent people in tsunami-struck countries would experience depression which might last for year if left untreated.

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2005)