China's two major radio stations have launched an interactive psychological assistance program to help with the recovery of traumatized quake-affected people.

China National Radio and China Radio International broadcast the 15-minute program, named "Same Heart With You -- Post-disaster Psychological Assistance Action", at 10:45 p.m. and 1:35 p.m. respectively every day.

The program includes a systematic introduction to psychological assistance and the interaction between experts and people in the quake-hit areas.

"An important task for the post-disaster reconstruction is to carry out psychological intervention to help quake-affected people regain confidence and overcome the pain of losing families, relatives and friends," said Liu Junjie, an advocator of the program.

It is a practical way to make use of broadcast in spreading knowledge on psychological assistance now that there is transport inconvenience, Liu said.

The death toll from the 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12 rose to 34,073 by noon on Monday, according to the earthquake relief headquarters of the State Council, China's Cabinet.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2008)