| Budget Amount *help |
¥2,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,800,000)
Fiscal Year 1999: ¥500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000)
Fiscal Year 1998: ¥700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000)
Fiscal Year 1997: ¥1,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000)
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| Research Abstract |
Volcanic activities in Mt.Unzen which started in November 1990 have brought heavy casualties and burned and destroyed many houses and extensive farmland. In mental health support activities for the survivors of the volcanic disaster, which started in September 1991, mental health investigations have been conducted five times in total, which clarified the followings. (1) Findings of the GHQ-30:1) the percentage of the high risk group of people with a GHQ score 8 or higher has decreased from 66.9% to 32.4% in 8 years, which was still significantly higher than that (12.3%) of the control residents living in the similar social and economic situations in the neighboring communities. However, 2) symptoms related to 'anxiety and tension' and 'social dysfunction' have improved within 12 months since the beginning of the evacuation from their homes. 3) Symptoms related to 'depression' have continued for more than 3-4 years. 4) Symptoms related to 'difficulty in interpersonal relation' have still continued after 8 years. As such, it was confirmed that their psychological condition has changed with time. (2) The relationship between living situations and psychological condition of the survivors after they returned their homes from the evacuation: 1) Significant changes in a daily life pattern, 2) significant changes in roles in family life, 3) a decrease in contacts with old acquaintances, and 4) significant relationship between the loss of feeling healthy and not being psychologically well. (3) Risk factors of psychological ill health of the survivors: 1) Females, 2) middle-aged or elderly people, 3) people receiving medical care for chronic diseases, 4) people who experienced frequent evacuations from the early stage of the disaster, and 5) self-employed people. The study clarified the necessity to carry out support activities with the changing process of support needs of survivors in mind.
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