Trapped Chilean Miners Face Psychological Challenges-4 months to rescue?

[RamboLiberal]

The 33 miners trapped in a Chilean mine since August 5 face what could be four more months in a 600-square-foot space underground as they wait for rescuers to dig a hole deep and wide enough to get them out.

According to the Associated Press, engineers secured a lifeline today to provide the miners with food, water, medicine and communication. Doctors are also trying to assess their psychological condition. Experts say that being trapped in the mine for an extended period of time could be extremely detrimental to their mental health.

And new challenges appear to be emerging by the hour. Two of the 33 men are reportedly obese, and it appears that they will not fit through the 27-inch-wide hole rescuers intend to drill. ABC News has been told that these two miners will have to lose enough weight during their captivity to fit into the hole once it is dug.

Among the psychological challenges they face is the stress of the confinement itself. ABC News has learned that psychological counseling is already available on site, as are doctors.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/trapped-chilean-miners-face-month-rescue-effort/story?id=11460838


Picture of a banner with the pictures of the 33 miners trapped in the San Esteban gold and copper mine in Copiapo, 800 km north of Santiago, taken on August 23, 2010 a day after learning via a camera lowered deep below ground that the 33 workers were alive and in good health. In addition to the challenges they face by being physically cramped in an extremely confined space that?s dark and dank for a long period of time with limited food and water, mental health experts say they will also likely have to deal with extreme psychological stress as a result of being trapped.
(Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)

Wow - I can't even imagine being trapped that long in a confined space and dark. I sure hope they can rescue these men & earlier than 4 months.

Next time you have a bad day at work think about these guys.

[spanone]

1. i can't even imagine...

[hlthe2b]

2. That is my definition of hell on earth

Hot, dirty, crowded, confined, dank, and trapped. Imagine the problems with their human waste, alone. Uggh. Bless them. I hope they are very tough, but geez. I don't know that I'd survive.

[seabeyond]

3. isnt that just something. wow, huh. nt

[petronius]

4. Just hope some reality TV producer doesn't get hold of this - except for the

absence of hawt chicks, this is tailor-made for a Big Brother style extravaganza. :silly:

I can't really imagine what this would be like - it would be one thing to plan for the isolation (like a space mission or going to Antarctica), but being thrust into it an an otherwise normal day of work would be a major shock. Hope they're at least racking up the overtime...