Shanghai East Hospital, which is affiliated to Tongji University, recently published a book on psychological self-help during the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The book was issued by Shanghai Scientific and Technological Publishers, and the first 100,000 copies is being presented to citizens in Hubei province and Shanghai.

With the novel coronavirus outbreak, emotion is running high among the public. Psychological care is as important as physical care and treatment, as it is also related to health, safety and social stability.

"The duration of the outbreak is closely related to the mental health of the public," said Zhao Xudong, an expert in psychiatry and director of the department of clinical psychology at East Hospital, and also one of the book's chief editors.

The book focuses on medical personnel, people in the epidemic area, patients and their families, and the general public, and expounds the principles and measures of psychological protection under special circumstances.

Nearly 50 questions and answers are included to explain public psychological problems during epidemic prevention and control, to detail psychological protection self-help techniques in such circumstances.

Liu Zhongmin, one of the editors-in-chief of the book, said that years of practical experience in emergency rescue have proved how important and urgent it is to practice humanistic concepts in relief efforts and to cater for the emotional needs of people affected by disasters and epidemics.

"The purpose of this book is to provide psychological intervention and assistance to patients, healthcare workers, people in key quarantined areas and the general public while preventing and controlling the epidemic," he said.