Citation

Fukasawa M, Suzuki Y, Obara A, Kim Y. Disaster Med. Public Health Prep. 2018; 12(5): 622-630.

Affiliation

1Department of Adult Mental Health,National Institute of Mental Health,National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry,Tokyo,Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Publisher Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/dmp.2017.127

PMID

29444742

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether stressors after a disaster have later effects on the mental health of public servants who engage in disaster response and to estimate the proportion of those experiencing persistent mental distress.

METHODS: We analyzed the data of health surveys conducted in Miyagi Prefecture for all prefectural public servants at 2, 7, and 16 months after the Great East Japan Earthquake (n=3174). We investigated relationships between mental distress (defined as K6≥10) at 16 months after the earthquake and earthquake damage and working conditions at 2 months. We also calculated the proportion of participants who scored K6≥10 on all 3 surveys.

RESULTS: The experience of living someplace other than one's own home was significantly related with mental distress at 16 months after the earthquake. Few participants consistently scored K6≥10 throughout all 3 surveys.

CONCLUSIONS: The effects of stressors in the aftermath of a disaster could remain for a long time. Few public servants experienced persistent mental distress. Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;page 1 of 9.

Language: en

Keywords

disaster; mental health; public servants; working conditions