Practical Report of Disaster-Related Mental Health Interventions Following the Great East Japan Earthquake during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Potential for Suicide Prevention

Bibliographic Data

ID15503262
AuthorsMasatsugu Orui (0000-0002-4871-8455, Fukushima Medical University, corresponding author), 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)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue19
Pages10424-10424
Publication date2021-10-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph181910424
PMID34639724
OpenAlexW3204455097
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited33

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

Binge drinking · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Environmental health · Hotline · Loneliness · Mental health · Occupational safety and health · Outreach · Pandemic · Poison control · Political science · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Suicide prevention · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies