Stem Center Community Support Division
The activities in FY 2022 of the Stem Center Community Support Division (“Division”) in the areas
affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake were in Natori City, Watari Town, and Yamamoto Town, which
are under the jurisdiction of the Shiogama Public Health Center, Iwanuma Branch.
[Resident support project]
1. Individual support(1) Continued support for high-risk health survey patients
The continued support provided by the Division for high-risk health survey patients who were affectedby the disaster has been gradually handed over to the normal support responses by municipalities since
FY 2019. This handover to municipalities was mainly done by conducting case study meetings, joint visitswith municipal staff members, and then gradually shifting to support provided solely by municipal staff
members. In FY 2022, there were no cases that were supported solely by the Division, with only two joint
visits conducted for two cases of social withdrawal and suicidal ideation, which have taken time to handover. By the end of the fiscal year, these two cases have also been handed over to municipal staff members,
concluding the support provided by the Division.
2. Local resident exchange project(1) Utsukushima Salon
We held the Utsukushima Salon, intended for those who moved from Fukushima Prefecture to theSennan area of Miyagi Prefecture after the Great East Japan Earthquake. The forum has fostered theexchange of information about the situation within Fukushima Prefecture and where to move, as well as
for interacting with friends from the same hometown. However, what used to be regularly held once amonth was interrupted by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. During implementation, attention wasgiven to infection prevention, and the content was covered in about one hour. Separately from the salon,
we noted cases of members who wished to have individual opportunities to interact with one another.
Table 1 shows the results of activities in FY 2022.

Color paper collage activity

Covered button magnet making− 24 −

Table 1. Local resident exchange project (Utsukushima Salon)
Venue
Iwanuma
CityImplementation dateJune 3, 2022
July 15, 2022
October 21, 2022
November 18, 2022
February 17, 2023
March 3, 2023

ContentSeal and case making
Aroma oil-based insect repellent spray making
Halloween accessory making
Color paper collage activity
Covered button magnet making
Memory slideshow

Participants
12 people
6 people
13 people
12 people
12 people
8 people Held from 13:30–14:30, free conversation for the second half hour
[Support for supporters project]
1. Supporter consultation project (professional advice etc.)
We provided regular support once a month to Natori City and Watari Town. We also participated in case study
meetings upon request, and provided support for its preparation, in Yamamoto Town, where we have been
providing support as needed since FY 2022.
(1) Participation in case study meetings and case reviews
Based on post-disaster health survey cases, we shifted our focus to cases of mental difficulties faced bypeople raising children. In FY 2022, we participated 12 times each in Natori City and Watari Town, andonce in Yamamoto Town.
2. Supporters’ mental health support project (e.g., training, interviews)
We provided a lecture for supporters on mental care following a disaster upon request by SendaiKakekomidera. We also conducted self-care training for administrative workers upon the request of the Natori
City Employees Union. Approval for the Division to conduct the lecture for Sendai Kakekomidera wasobtained after consulting with the Sendai City Mental Health and Welfare Center (Heart Port Sendai), andapproval for the training for the Natori City Employees Union was obtained after consulting with the Shiogama
Public Health Center, Iwanuma Branch.
Table 2. Mental health training for supporters
Venue

Implementation dateContent
Participants“What you should know for protectingOnline
June 22, 2022
13 people
your mental health after a disaster”
Natori City
November 17, 2022
“Self-care for administrative workers”
15 people
3. Support for supporters regarding children’s mental care
The “Children’s psychological first-aid training” (Children’s PFA training), where basic methods of providing
psychological support during disasters are shown, was conducted as follows.

One-day training: Group work

One-day training: Role play
− 25 −

Table 3. Children’s psychological first-aid training (Children’s PFA training)
Venue

Implementationdate

Training content

Subjects/participants

Number ofparticipants

Deepen teaching skills and knowledge
Instructor
for instructors who work as training
Sendai City May 19, 2022
development
7 people
instructors: Lecture, exercise (role play,training participantsgroup work)
Introductory (online) training (firstsession): Learn the reactions thatchildren commonly show in crisis
situations, and learn the basics of PFA
for children, such as the behavioral
OnlineJuly 28, 2022
43 people
principles of PFA and how to
Educational
communicate with stressed children
personnel (school
Lecture: “What is children’s PFA?
nurses, nursery
Reactions shown by children in crisis
teachers,situations”
kindergarten
October 27,
Introductory (online) training (secondOnline
23 peopleteachers), public2022
session): Same as first
health nurses, childOne-day training (first session): Learn
guidance center
the reactions that children commonly
staff, etc.
December 11,
show in crisis situations, and learn theOsaki City
19 people
2022
behavioral principles of PFA andcommunicating with stressed children
while role-playing
IwanumaJanuary 19,
One-day training (second session):
27 people
City
2023
Same as first
Aimed as a refresher for assistive
technique and knowledge for people
Individuals whoFebruary 2,
who received the one-day training
Sendai City
completed the one18 people
2023
Lecture: “Children’s mental care for
day training
daily support”
Practice: roleplay, group work The one-day training (first session) was changed from August 25 to December 11 owing to the COVID-19
pandemic.
4. Longitudinal support study for children born after the Great East Japan Earthquake and theirfamilies (Michinoku Children’s Cohort Study)
In FY 2022, we continued the Michinoku Children’s Cohort Study, which has been conducted since FY 2016
with the aim of interacting with children born immediately after the earthquake, evaluating changes in children
and families, clarifying effective support, and assisting in supporter activities, such as in disasters occurring inthe future.
[Raising public awareness project]
1. Annual activity report creation project
The FY 2021 Annual Activity Report (Bulletin Vol. 10) was created and distributed to related institutions(1,000 copies created, distributed to 870 locations). An English version was also created and posted on thewebsite.
2. Dissemination of mental health information(1) Dissemination of information through websites and blogs
We disseminated information, such as an introduction to the activities of the MDMHCC, publication ofback issues of our public relations magazine, posting of various pamphlets, and provision of training
information, updating them as needed.
(2) Creation and distribution of leaflets, etc.
We distributed various public awareness materials related to mental health during training, healthconsultations, home visits, and office visits. We also provided them to municipalities upon request.
Moreover, we distributed public awareness goods at the children’s PFA training.
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(3) Response to various interviews, etc.
We responded to requests for interviews and studies related to the Great East Japan Earthquake frommedia outlets, universities, and other organizations.
3. MDMHCC-related activity research project (see Activity Report by project item for conference
presentations)
We set regulations, such as new research ethics, and established an approval committee. We held three
approval committees in accordance with the new regulations, and we were able to make some progress in
preparing to widely disseminate the collected knowledge.
[Other]1. Business statistical data management
We continued to operate the business statistics system and individual support system. We analyzed
activities, such as reports at national and prefectural level as well as from various conferences, and changes
over time.
2. Staff training
As a general rule, all staff members participated in general meetings held twice a year to confirm theoperation and direction of management, and to share information.
We also encouraged staff members to take external training as a recommended training course, to acquire
skills and knowledge tailored to each staff member.
[Summary, future prospects, and challenges]
In FY 2022, we completed the integration of the Community Support Division, which has primarily been incharge of direct support to the community, and the Business Management Division, which has been in chargeof various training operations, business statistics, and system management, with each project being
implemented under the new system that was the new Community Support Division. FY 2022 was a year inwhich we worked specifically to reduce or complete our operations in the three pillars of projects (Residentsupport, support for supporters, and raising public awareness projects) in preparation for the completion ofour Center in FY 2025. We have entered the final stage of completing our role as a disaster-response typeorganization with a limited operating period without encountering any problems. One aspect that has left animpression is how the phrases “how to end,” “how to close,” and “how to wrap up” could be heard multiple
times during conferences and meetings in the Division. Though obvious upon reflection, it is the first time thatthe Division and MDMHCC have experienced this process. As such, it was also a time when we spentconsiderable effort feeling our way around the process, sometimes feeling confused or even lost.
From FY 2023, we begin the process of closing the MDMHCC in earnest. We would like to continue ourefforts in the limited time we have, keeping in mind the common expression, “it’s an ill bird that fouls its
own nest.”− 27 −