Lantern Festival Sees Separation Anxiety for the Elderly

The month-long Spring Festival celebrations officially came to a close with the observance of the Lantern Festival last night.

But while the Lantern Festival is an opportunity for people to cap-off the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar, for many of this country's elderly, the passing of the festival also starts the clock on almost a year of waiting to once-again see their children.

The Lantern Festival is traditionally considered a joyful day.

But in today's modern society, for many of this country's elderly, it also brings about feelings of separation anxiety.

With millions of migrant workers packing up and heading back to work, the Lantern Festival has become a day for many where loneliness begins to haunt those who stay behind.

Seventy-one-year-old Ms. Gao, a widow from Sichuan, is one of those "empty nesters" who had to see off her son on his way back to work in neighboring Yunnan.

"He was sad, and I was sad too. I have given him some money. No matter how much money he has, I ask him to take my money. Maybe it's only enough for a taxi ride, but it makes me feel a little better."

The sudden set-in of loneliness can sometimes be too much to bear for some.

Last week, two elderly women in Jiangsu's capital Nanjing took their lives shortly after their children left following big family gatherings.

Both women were widows over the age of 80.

Mental health experts have been warning that elderly people, particularly those who have lost a spouse, are vulnerable to separation anxiety and post-holiday depression when their families leave them.

Liu Yu is a psychologist who specializes in dealing with depression among the elderly.

"Many elderly people with separation anxiety issues will suffer from insomnia, dizziness and fatigue. These symptoms can increase dramatically once family reunions come to a close."

Traditionally in China, it was expected people's children, when they grow up, would take care of their parents.

This was much easier when parents had multiple children, who could then share the duties of caring for their parents.

But with the advent of the family-planning rules to limit population growth, many elderly parents find themselves living on their own, with their children unable or unwilling to bear the burden of caring for their parents.

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs estimates more than half of all Chinese families now have at least one empty-nest parent.

Chinese lawmakers and political advisors attending the annual political sessions here in Beijing are preparing to try to address the situation.

One proposal is the creation of a so-called "Seniors Day" public holiday, which would allow children or volunteers to keep empty-nesters company.

(Source: CRI.English)