NPO Miyagi Prefecture Danshukai Business Initiatives
Stem Center Planning Division
Psychiatric Social Worker - Reira Onuma
1. Introduction
The Miyagi Disaster Mental Health Care Center (hereinafter referred to as our center) outsources work
to the NPO Miyagi Prefecture Danshukai (hereinafter referred to as Danshukai) to address alcohol-related
problems. This project aims to address the alcohol-related issues that have become a concern in each region
due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. Our purpose is to secure a support system for individuals in needand to transfer knowledge and skills to residents and supporters working in the stricken areas. Here, wereport on the FY2014 initiatives that we cooperated with the Danshukai.
2. Overview of Activities( 1 ) Kesennuma City Motoyoshi District Regular Danshukai Meetings
A monthly meeting is held as a place to discuss recent updates and negative drinking experiences. In
cooperation with participating supporters (municipalities, hospitals, Councils of Social Welfare, Area
Comprehensive Support Centers, Danshukai, our center), supervising activities such as confirming thesafety of individuals who are of concern and those who are absent from the regular Danshukai meetings
have become more natural. There are currently more supporters than parties involved and it seems difficult
for attendees to manage the meetings by themselves, but we hope to gradually shift this so that the meetings
are held by the attendees.
( 2 ) Higashi Matsushima City Alcohol Open Seminar
As an alcohol-related problem prevention project in Higashi Matsushima City, an open seminar washeld in cooperation with Dansukai for support center staff and counselors at consultation support facilities
for persons with disabilities, in which the parties and their families participated. Intending to gain
knowledge regarding alcohol use disorders and what recovery is like, Danshukai introduced itself andparticipants shared their experiences. The staff commented saying that the participants’ experiences were
unforgettable, suggesting that this helped them understand alcohol use disorders.
( 3 ) Ishinomaki City Kahoku District Alcohol-Related Problems Workshop
One-on-one support meetings with container type temporary housing residents with alcohol-related
problems in FY2014 revealed the necessity of more support activities. There was also a request to hold aworkshop for both affected individuals and supporters with the cooperation of the organizations concernedand municipalities. To hold the workshop, several meetings were held at the Medical Corporation
Tohokukai Tohokukai Hospital (hereinafter referred to as Tohokukai Hospital), Danshukai, the Kahoku- 67 -General Branch, the Area Comprehensive Support Center, and our center. The first training sessions wereprimarily group work sessions and sessions to share experiences. Through the workshop, the more people
began to recognize the importance of these activities, the need to cooperate to address alcohol-related issues
were reaffirmed among the supporters.
( 4 ) Alcohol-Related Problems Workshop for Supporters in the Sendai Health and Welfare Office
In response to the increasing number of occasions to deal with alcohol-related issues, a training
session was held in cooperation with the Danshukai for supporters working in disaster relief. The contents
included a lecture by a doctor at Tohokukai Hospital and a presentation on his experiences at a Danshukai
meeting. Hearing the experience directly from a participant helped others to better understand alcohol usedisorders.

( 5 ) Towards the Launch of the Natori City Danshukai
The absence of a Danshukai in the Sennan region and an increase in occasions to deal with alcoholrelated issues led to the launch of a Danshukai in Natori City. In 2014, we had a meeting regarding thelaunch with Danshukai, Natori City, the Tohokukai Hospital, and our center. The targets of this program
were individuals with alcohol problems in Natori City and the municipalities in the vicinity. From the earlystages, we made sure that a key person participated, and we would continue to cooperate so that operations
could be carried out mainly by residents and the Danshukai.
3. Conclusion
The above projects were mainly conducted in FY2014. There are also increasing movements to launch
new Danshukais, such as activities in the Kahoku District of Ishinomaki City and Natori City. It is thoughtthat alcohol issues will continuously be an issue in stricken areas and will require attention and handling.
Therefore, we want to continue these activities in FY2015 while cooperating with the Danshukai.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the people who assisted in writing.

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