Psychologists - Zhou He (left), project leader of Shanghai Children Art Education Research Center, Li Ling (middle), associate professor of Department of Applied Psychology of East China Normal University, and Zhang Yiwen (right), director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Department of Shanghai Children's Medical Center - are answering questions raised by netizens at microblog of sina.com.cn. [Photo/China Daily]

SHANGHAI - Disney has initiated an online psychotherapy to relieve students from school-related anxiety before the new semester begins.

"It is often the case with students to be anxious for school after long holidays," said Huang Chen, director of Corporate Communications of the Walt Disney Company (Shanghai) Ltd.

Disney invited three local psychologists to have talks with students through microblog at sina.com.cn, trying to make them at ease when facing a new approaching semester, said Huang.

Statistics from the Shanghai Psychological Consultation Center showed that it receives more than 100 student patients daily in the holiday-end period, up 25 percent than in the ordinary time.

"School anxiety is often seen in teenagers who are apt to be in depression, hot-tempered and absent-minded in class," said Zhang Yiwen, director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Department of Shanghai Children's Medical Center.

Most parents believe their children are weary of returning to their studies due to long holidays, regardless of their psychological problems, Zhang said.

She suggested that parents communicate with their kids to sooth their worries about a new semester.

Her words were echoed by Li Ling, associate professor of Department of Applied Psychology of East China Normal University, who said the anxiety is related to the return to regular life in school and the homework burden.

"But it is a common phenomenon which will appear not only in students but parents and teachers," said Li.

"Therefore, parents should not often remind their kids of having a feeling of urgency to challenge the school life. Doing so, on contrary, will reinforce their anxiety," she said.

Parents should help kids get rid of psychological burden by cultivating their study interests, which is very important to their further studies, said Zhou He, project leader of Shanghai Children Art Education Research Center.

She said parents should help kids work out specific study plans rather than let them do it alone.

The plans, which will involve both life and study, should be carried out by parents and kids together to create a harmonious relation to ensure kids grow healthily, Zhou said.