Stem Center Planning and Research Division Activity Report[Resident support project]
We conducted this project for residents with various concerns, such as residents who still carry psychologicalburdens after the disaster, or residents who feel more isolated due to changes in the community.
1. Consultation support project
For FY2020, we responded to 12 telephone consultations.
2. Community resident exchange project (cooperation with management of salon activity –“Utsukushima salon”)
We cooperated with the management of the Stem Center Community Support Division’s salon for victims
outside the prefecture (i.e., those who relocated from Fukushima Prefecture).
3. Cooperation with health surveys
In response to Typhoon Hagibis (Typhoon No. 19), we cooperated with the health survey conducted byMarumori Town and made 25 visits to victims together with the Community Support Division.
[Support for supporters project]
We provided support for the activities of local government employees and supporters, who have many
psychological and physical burdens, and cooperated in responding to various mental health issues.
1. Alcohol-related problem response project (support in affected areas by alcohol-related problemsupport organizations)
To respond to alcohol-related problems in the affected area, we contracted work to the Tohokukai
Hospital and Miyagi Prefecture Danshukai and provided support so that supporters could appropriately
handle alcohol-related problems. Monthly meetings were held in Natori City, Ishinomaki City, Kesennuma
City, and Motoyoshi Town, which led to the establishment of a Danshukai.
2. Supporters club operation project (supporter dispatch coordination)
Six new people, including professionals involved in mental health care, were registered. Theseindividuals cooperated in the implementation of the “Psychological support skill improvement course” andthe “Miyagi Mental Health Care Forum.”[Human resource development project]
We conducted professional training for improving the skills of community supporters so that they could
effectively tackle future mental health issues.
Due to COVID-19, the “Psychological support skill improvement course” was changed to an online format
as a disaster-related professional training. Furthermore, the on-the-job training for alcohol-related problems wasreduced from the planned six sessions for the year to four sessions (September, November, December, February).
Priority was given to municipal staff who wished to attend and had not yet attended.
1 Disaster-related professional training project
We conducted training for professionals involved in disaster support.
Table 1 Disaster support-related professional training project
Implementation
date

Hostmunicipality

2020/8/4

Sendai City

2020/12/16

Sendai City

2021/2/3

Sendai CityTitle
Psychological support skill improvement course, Session 1 –“Putting cognitive behavioral therapy into practice”(Instructor: Kazunori Matsumoto, Mental Health Clinic OASIS Director)
Psychological support skill improvement course, Session 2 –“Initial response / initial support for counseling recipients with trauma”(Instructor: Tomoko Osawa, Hyogo Disaster Mental Health Care CenterSenior Researcher)
Psychological support skill improvement course, Session 3 –“Present and future of support that utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy”(Instructor: Yutaka Ono, Center for the Development of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy Training Chairman)- 44 -

Number ofparticipants
31

25

28

2.

Alcohol-related problem response training project (on-the-job training for alcohol-relatedproblems)
We conducted training for administrative staff who were involved in direct support with the aim ofacquiring professional knowledge and skills in alcohol-related problems. Nine individuals involved in work
relating to alcohol-related problems, who were employees of municipalities and health centers in theprefecture, took the course.

Session
1
2
3

Implementation date
2020/9/15–2020/9/17
2020/11/17–2020/11/19
2020/12/15–2020/12/17

42021/2/16–2021/2/18

Table 2 ParticipantsParticipants
Individuals involved in work
pertaining to alcohol-related
problems, who were employees ofmunicipalities and health centers in
the prefecture

Table 3 On-the-job training program
Day 1Day 2
Orientation
Cognitive behavioral therapy
program in alcohol ward
Alcohol beginner program
Drug addiction recovery facility
awareness video / group therapy / tour
family program
In-hospital AA tour
Addiction / open seminar※Participation in the addiction
Lecture by doctor
countermeasure supporter

Number of participants
2223

Day 3
Gambling addiction family
program
Addiction psychologicaleducation lecture

Summary

workshop (held online) for the 2ndand 4th sessions
Family group therapy
Drug group therapy[Raising public awareness project]
We conducted public awareness projects that allowed for citizens of the prefecture and supporters to deepen
their understanding of mental health, and which led to the improvement of mental health.
1. Dissemination of information through homepage, blogs
We conducted updates as needed, such as introducing activities of the Miyagi Disaster Mental HealthCare Center (hereinafter, “Center”), publishing back numbers of public relations magazines, allowing forthe browsing of various pamphlets, and providing training information.
Furthermore, to facilitate access for international researchers and practitioners to access the activities
and research of the Center, we translated the “Bulletin” and posted the English versions of Nos. 3, 4, and 7
on the homepage.
2. Creation and distribution of leaflets, etc.
We distributed various materials for public awareness at workshops, health consultations, home visits, etc.
3. Responding to various materials[Research aggregation project]
We conducted research to understand the situation of affected areas and victims.
We continued to conduct the “Children’s Cohort Study” over time to evaluate the changes in children
born immediately after the earthquake and their families, and to determine effective support for them.
In addition to aggregating research, we created and distributed a record magazine and held a forum todisseminate the results and issues of activities.
1. Research aggregation project (see reprint, activity report by project item)(1) Longitudinal support study for children born after the Great East Japan Earthquake and their families(1): From the relationship between cognitive development, problematic behaviors, and family damage
status in children in Miyagi Prefecture- 45 -(2) Longitudinal support study for children born after the great East Japan earthquake and their families (2):Damage status of parents and progress of each cluster due to past traumatic experiences※ Poster presentation at the Annual Japanese Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Meeting (held online).

2.

3.
4.

5.

Bulletin issuance project“FY2019 Bulletin (No. 8)” created and distributed to related organizations (1,200 copies created, distributed
to 883 locations).
English version of bulletin created (Nos. 1, 2, and 8), scheduled to be posted on homepage within FY2021.
Ethics committee management project
A research ethics committee was held (3 times in total).
Official activity record formulation project
Created the “Official activity record (2011–2020)” which summarizes the 10 years of activity by theMiyagi Disaster Mental Health Care Center and distributed this to related organizations (1,300 copies
created, distributed to 960 locations).
Miyagi Mental Health Care Forum project (re-displayed, see FY2020 Miyagi Mental Health Care
Forum Implementation Report)
The FY2020 Miyagi Mental Health Care Forum was hosted (February 27, 2021, held online).

[Other]1. Business statistics data management
We continued operating the business statistics system and individual support system. We analyzed activities
such as changes over time.
2. Staff training
We held general meetings twice a year online. We also called for external training as recommended training
to improve staff qualifications.
[Children’s Mental Health Care Community Base project] (re-displayed, see FY2020 Children’s Mental
Health Care Community Base Project Implementation Report)
1. Professional dispatch project
We dispatched professionals to Iwanuma City, Watari Town, and Natori City Nursery Center upon request,and we coordinated the dispatch of instructors.
2. Training project
We conducted “Psychological first aid (PFA) for children training (1-day training)” and “Trauma-informedcare training” once each in Sendai City.
3. Research
We continued to conduct the “Longitudinal support study for children born after the Great East Japan
Earthquake and their families” (re-displayed).
4. Raising public awarenessWe distributed clear files for public awareness to training participants, and we distributed self-care posters
to public high schools and special-needs schools in the prefecture.
[Summary]
FY2020 was set as an end to 10 years of activities for the Center; thus, we decided to summarize ouroverall work and to either conclude some projects or shift them to other organizations.
However, projects were implemented while considering the COVID-19 pandemic; therefore, some could
not be implemented as initially planned. There was a remarkable impact particularly in the training projects,
and we were forced to cancel many face-to-face training sessions.
Some projects were concluded as Center projects with FY2020 and implemented by other organizations
from FY2021 and were suspended. These were the “WHO Psychological first aid (PFA) training” and“Alcohol-related problem follow-up training.” Meanwhile, the “On-the-job training for alcohol-relatedproblems” was implemented with a reduced number of sessions. The “Psychological support skill
improvement course,” which ended in FY2020, was shifted to an online format and implemented.
Additionally, the “Psychological first aid (PFA) for children training” was conducted only once as a
1-day training session. Initially, we did not anticipate that the effects of COVID-19 would last so long;- 46 -nevertheless, it seems necessary to continue investigating not onlyt the curriculum, but also how effective
training could be conducted in place of face-to-face training. Meanwhile, the “Miyagi Mental Health CareForum,” which started in FY2017 and was hosted for the final time in FY2020, was implemented online forthe first time. This also had some advantages, such as having some long-distance participants from outside
the prefecture. These were the circumstances under which we operated in FY2020. However, we were ableto carry out milestone projects, such as creating an official activity record that summarizes the 10 years ofactivities of the Center and hosting the Miyagi Mental Health Care Forum. This was an opportunity for thestaff to reflect on the past and future activities of the Center, and many people were able to learn about thecurrent situation of the Miyagi Prefecture.
From FY2021, the projects of the Center will be consolidated into the three pillars of “resident support,”“support for supporters,” and “raising public awareness” based on the “Second operation plan (FY2021–FY2025).” However, from FY2021, the work of the Planning and Research Division will be taken over by
the Business Administration Division. Here, they will continue to contribute to the “improvement ofcommunity mental health and welfare in the disaster area,” as well as to work on issues with relatedorganizations and proceed with preparations for the end of activities in FY2025.

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