Christchurch resilient

A post-earthquake Christchurch will be a more cohesive city and its citizens less materialistic, one of the city's psychiatrists says.

The people who went through both the September 2010 and February earthquakes, as well as the continuous aftershocks since, have been hugely resilient Christchurch based Prof Caroline Bell, of Otago University, said in Queenstown yesterday.

"The majority of the people are resilient. Listening to what people have been through, it is always really striking and it is stunning we are not in more trouble than where we are."

Prof Bell said initially, after the first and second quakes, the city showed a positive reaction, with a heroic bond evident in the community.

She said although this would decrease - the process had already started - the people of Christchurch would come out better off with a real "community and cohesive feel".

"Christchurch already was a very well connected city and they had a good response across the ground."

"New Zealand society is really connected and tends to look out for each other. Christchurch felt they could ask anything of anyone."

Prof Bell, who had been speaking at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists conference, said although the initial response was "great", reality had hit and people were now going through tougher times.

Residents were uncertain about rebuilding, insurance and the future of Christchurch, and now was the time to be mindful of mental health issues such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

"Most will recover from this, though we must be mindful of those who won't."

Symptoms of those suffering from PTSD were not sleeping, constantly being on edge, an inability to concentrate, anxiety and avoiding everyday things such as work.

"Things are improving, but some are really struggling and these ones tend to be those who have been exposed to the earthquake or have lost loved ones."

Many turned to alcohol during the recovery period and interpersonal problems had developed.

"It is one step forward and two steps back at the moment."

Prof Bell said the turning point for Christchurch would be when the aftershocks ceased, as people would then be able to feel a sense of normality.

She said the quote that best described post-earthquake Christchurch came from US deaf and blind author and activist Helen Keller (1880-1968).

Keller said: "All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming".