Among the most urgent needs in the health sector are the establishment of better monitoring systems of health situation, especially as regards children, coordination and application of research efforts and results, refurbishing of health care facilities and especially pediatric hospitals, and creating possibilities of recovery for children in uncontaminated areas. The lack of information, or in some cases misinformation, and the following uncertainty of present and future health effects and implications has caused enormous psychological stress among the affected population. Many local organizations have been born out of frustration of not knowing the truth. The Chernobyl accident did not only contaminate the physical environment, but it had a disastrous effect on social relationships and family life. In the contaminated areas divorce rates are high, parent and child relationships have suffered.
Alcoholism is rampant.
There is a need to increase awareness of these socio-psychological aspects and mental traumas created. The body of knowledge on the effects of environmental catastrophes on human psyche is not large but some experience has been gained through the work in the community centers in Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This information needs to be collected, analyzed and inserted into the curriculum of professional training of child psychologists, family sociologists, and shared with social workers and concerned communities. The educational opportunities of children have worsened in the contaminated areas due to the outflow of teachers from these areas, lack of maintenance of schools and practically no opportunities to carry out any special teaching programs for affected children. Many children have to interrupt their studies during their health rehabilitation treatments which are carried out year round.