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Practical Report of Disaster-Related Mental Health Interventions Following the Great East Japan Earthquake during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Potential for Suicide Prevention

Author

Listed:
  • Masatsugu Orui

    (Sendai City Mental Health Welfare Center, Sendai 980-0845, Japan
    Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan)

  • Suzuka Saeki

    (Sendai City Mental Health Welfare Center, Sendai 980-0845, Japan)

  • Shuichiro Harada

    (Sendai City Mental Health Welfare Center, Sendai 980-0845, Japan)

  • Mizuho Hayashi

    (Sendai City Mental Health Welfare Center, Sendai 980-0845, Japan
    On behalf of the Disaster Mental Health Team of the Sendai City Mental Health and Welfare Center.)

Abstract

Background : This practical report aims to publicize the ongoing disaster-related mental health interventions following the Great East Japan Earthquake during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods : Disaster-related mental health interventions consisted of: (1) screening high-risk evacuees with high psychological distress (Kessler 6 score ≥ 13) or binge drinking; and (2) visiting selected high-risk individuals and providing them counseling through outreach in evacuee housing. These activity records were compiled from existing material in the Sendai City Office; therefore, no new interviews or questionnaire surveys were conducted. Results : During the COVID-19 pandemic, we introduced telephone counseling and shortened the time of support as a result of the restrictions. Counselors addressed issues of “loneliness” or “isolation” among evacuees, who had little connection with society due to the pandemic. Moreover, the procedure for obtaining COVID-19 special financial aid was explained to evacuees in financial difficulty. During this period, the suicide rates in the affected area did not increase significantly as compared to the national average. Conclusions : Our report may be instructive in terms of preventing suicide during the pandemic using high-risk approaches and counselors trained in disaster-related mental health interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Masatsugu Orui & Suzuka Saeki & Shuichiro Harada & Mizuho Hayashi, 2021. "Practical Report of Disaster-Related Mental Health Interventions Following the Great East Japan Earthquake during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Potential for Suicide Prevention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:10424-:d:649506
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Takanao Tanaka & Shohei Okamoto, 2021. "Increase in suicide following an initial decline during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(2), pages 229-238, February.
    2. Masatsugu Orui & Maiko Fukasawa & Naoko Horikoshi & Yuriko Suzuki & Norito Kawakami, 2020. "Development and Evaluation of a Gatekeeper Training Program Regarding Anxiety about Radiation Health Effects Following a Nuclear Power Plant Accident: A Single-Arm Intervention Pilot Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Masatsugu Orui & Chihiro Nakayama & Yujiro Kuroda & Nobuaki Moriyama & Hajime Iwasa & Teruko Horiuchi & Takeo Nakayama & Minoru Sugita & Seiji Yasumura, 2020. "The Association between Utilization of Media Information and Current Health Anxiety Among the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster Evacuees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-12, June.
    4. Yujiro Kuroda & Masatsugu Orui & Arinobu Hori, 2021. "Trends in Suicide Mortality in 10 Years around the Great East Japan Earthquake: Analysis of Evacuation and Non-Evacuation Areas in Fukushima Prefecture," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-10, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ayako Ide-Okochi & Tomonori Samiso & Yumie Kanamori & Mu He & Mika Sakaguchi & Kazumi Fujimura, 2022. "Depression, Insomnia, and Probable Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Survivors of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake and Related Factors during the Recovery Period Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Masatsugu Orui, 2022. "Suicide and Suicide Prevention Activities Following the Great East Japan Earthquake 2011: A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-19, September.

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