Greetings
Nine years since the earthquake disaster
Miyagi Prefecture Mental Health and Welfare Association
Miyagi Disaster Mental Health Care Center
Director Akira Kodaka

As of the writing of this manuscript in May 2020, while the days have become greener and the town
has grown increasingly beautiful, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is threatening the world, profoundly impacting the maintenance of life, economic activities, and daily life. The areas affected by theGreat East Japan Earthquake now face new shocks and loads in addition to the storm and flood damage
and various other difficulties faced during the recovery process.
On the scene of daily medical care, I have continuously encountered the following types of people:
those who have lost their homes and jobs after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, those who have moved
to Miyagi Prefecture, those who have finally began to see hope of working again after losing their jobs
in the ongoing pandemic, and those who after having lost their family in the tsunami disaster during
their junior high school years and successfully finding work then suspected coronavirus infection whileliving alone. These people have withstood isolating anxiety, waited for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
test results, and been relieved to see that they were not infected. Nevertheless, they face ongoing tension
at work, with insomnia and anxiety continuing to beset them. Despite these challenges, they live fullfledged lives amidst ongoing disasters and continue to fight against anxiety.
As we usher in the 10th anniversary of the Center’s activities, we acknowledge that the Center has
been involved in national and prefectural reconstruction plans after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Since our inception, we have responded to requests from affected cities and towns and promoted activities focused on home visits to primarily provide support for those who were deemed to be in need of it,
according to the findings of health surveys of affected people. During this period, the number of people
occupying temporary housing has dropped to less than 30 (as of April 2019), and the maintenance rateof disaster public housing was 100% (15,823 units). According to a recent health survey (the FY2018
edition, as the FY 2019 edition is not yet published), the percentage of those with a K6 of over 13 points
who have mental health issues has remained high at 8% (for comparison, the national average in 2016
was 4%). For elderly people who live in disaster public housing, generations that work under strict conditions, those who grew up and became adults in the high-load post-disaster environment, and the childrearing generation and children, we anticipate that there will continue to be a strong need for mental
health and further support, given the continuous storm and flood damage and the effects of the COVID19 pandemic.
With regard to COVID-19, which is a global disaster, associations like the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology have expressed concerns about the increases in serious mental health issues inchildren, elderly people, working generations, and even entire families. They have also emphasized theneed for stronger support systems, including suicide countermeasures.
The support activities that we confirmed to be effective through implementation after the Great East
Japan Earthquake have been home visits, cooperation, activities that provide opportunities to make interpersonal connections, lifestyle support, activities that deepen people’s understanding of mental health,care management, and other basic matters pertaining to community mental health activities. These typesof support have been indispensable fundamental aspects in the COVID-19 era, and we believe that theseshould be provided with even more vigor, while incorporating review, revision, and innovation. In anera that requires the reinforcement of community mental health, which integrates national and prefectural policies, we would like to play a role in affected areas where we can utilize the experience we haveaccumulated up to this time.
We thank you for your continued guidance, support, and encouragement.