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Acute Mental Health Needs Duration during Major Disasters: A Phenomenological Experience of Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Teams (DPATs) in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Sho Takahashi

    (Department of Disaster and Community Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba; Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
    Department of Community and Disaster Assistance, Ibaraki Prefectural Medical Center of Psychiatry, Asahi-machi, Kasama, Ibaraki 309-1717, Japan)

  • Yoshifumi Takagi

    (Nihon Fukushi University, Okuda, Mihama-cho, Chita-gun, Aichi 470-3295, Japan)

  • Yasuhisa Fukuo

    (DPAT secretariat, commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Kasumigaseki Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8916, Japan
    Kanagawa Psychiatric Center, Serigaya, Konan Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 233-0006, Japan)

  • Tetsuaki Arai

    (Department of Psychiatry, Division of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan)

  • Michiko Watari

    (DPAT secretariat, commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Kasumigaseki Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8916, Japan)

  • Hirokazu Tachikawa

    (Department of Disaster and Community Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba; Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
    Department of Community and Disaster Assistance, Ibaraki Prefectural Medical Center of Psychiatry, Asahi-machi, Kasama, Ibaraki 309-1717, Japan)

Abstract

Background: How long acute mental health needs continue after the disaster are problems which must be addressed in the treatment of victims. The aim of this study is to determine victims’ needs by examining activity data from Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Teams (DPATs) in Japan. Methods: Data from four disasters were extracted from the disaster mental health information support system (DMHISS) database, and the transition of the number of consultations and the activity period were examined. Results: Common to all four disasters, the number of consultations increased rapidly from 0–2 days, reaching a peak within about a week. The partial correlation coefficient between the number of days of activity and the maximum number of victims showed significance. The number of victims and days of activity can be used to obtain a regression curve. Conclusions: This is the first report to reveal that mental health needs are the greatest in the hyper-acute stage, and the need for consultation and the duration of needs depends on the number of victims.

Suggested Citation

  • Sho Takahashi & Yoshifumi Takagi & Yasuhisa Fukuo & Tetsuaki Arai & Michiko Watari & Hirokazu Tachikawa, 2020. "Acute Mental Health Needs Duration during Major Disasters: A Phenomenological Experience of Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Teams (DPATs) in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-11, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:5:p:1530-:d:325761
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yui Yumiya & Odgerel Chimed-Ochir & Akihiro Taji & Eisaku Kishita & Kouki Akahoshi & Hisayoshi Kondo & Akinori Wakai & Kayoko Chishima & Yoshiki Toyokuni & Yuichi Koido & Hirokazu Tachikawa & Sho Taka, 2022. "Prevalence of Mental Health Problems among Patients Treated by Emergency Medical Teams: Findings from J-SPEED Data Regarding the West Japan Heavy Rain 2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-8, September.
    2. Emily Ying Yang Chan & Holly Ching Yu Lam, 2021. "Research in Health-Emergency and Disaster Risk Management and Its Potential Implications in the Post COVID-19 World," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-3, March.
    3. Naru Fukuchi & Shusaku Chiba, 2022. "Utilization of Mental Health Support Systems in the Aftermath of Disasters in Japan: Statistical Data of the Miyagi Disaster Mental Health Care Center," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-11, August.

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