What I Think About the Activities of the Miyagi Disaster Mental Health Care Center Over thePast Year
National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Institute of Mental HealthDirector of Information Support Center forDisasters
Director of Adult Mental Health Research
Department – Yoshiharu Kim(Miyagi Disaster Mental Health Care Center – Advisor)

Two years have already passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, and over that time, theinitiatives of the staff of the MDMHCC have seen massive development.
Though reconstruction gaps between residents have widened, alcohol-related problems are onthe rise, and difficult cases continue to increase in number, you all have put your minds to yourdaily visitation work and other activities with utmost passion, and have even endeavored to undergoskill-up training to improve your ability to respond to the cases you see as specialists andprofessionals. I am quite moved by your diligence and work ethic. At the same time, through myriad
public awareness activities, the community residents you work with are now beginning to show aninterest in and understanding of mental health, and your efforts have even given you the opportunity
to identify new individuals in need of support. Finally, while no small number of municipal staff
have begun to develop illnesses and disease through long-term work and exhaustion, your work to
reduce their burden and teach them about self-care has positively affected their mental health andspread the importance of support for supporters far and wide.
While it is no easy feat to understand the changing needs of the community and flexibly respondto them, it is vital that you all take a stance that allows you to both maintain and further
collaborations with other organizations and also reduce the burden placed on municipalities as youcontinue to work. Finally, because it is often too easy to forget, you must remind yourselves that
the Center has an expiration date, and that you must enable municipalities and residents toindependently engage in activities and self-care practices after it is gone. This perspective isincredibly important; as supporters, you must maintain an objective outlook toward the future.
As workers who have gathered from both within and without the prefecture, I am sure there
have been times when people have hurled heartless comments at you or your colleagues. However,your efforts to keep the best intentions of the region in mind as you go about your work are also
surely leading to making the overall community stronger. As you progress toward your work in FY
2013, I know you will continue to maintain the impeccable posture and attitude as supporters thatyou all have built up so far, to collaborate with organizations and people throughout society, andto provide flexible, adaptable support deeply rooted in the needs of your communities. Mycolleagues and I will make every effort to provide you with whatever support we can.
Finally, I would like to express my deep respect for every individual involved in supporting
local communities. While keeping in mind that many of you are as much survivors as supporters, I
humbly ask that you praise your own efforts thus far and continue to provide care to those aroundyou.

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