[Psychological trauma risks among disaster workers: perspectives on their mental health following the Great East Japan Earthquake].
Following the March 11, 2011 Great Japan East Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, disaster workers have been working day and night for recovery efforts. A large part of disaster workers, i.e., Self-Defense Force, police, fire department, and coast guard personnel, were highly acknowledged by the Japanese public for searching nearly 19,000 dead or missing victims. This recognition will be beneficial for their psychological recovery. On the other hand, dentists and government employees also took a large role in these mortuary missions, but their work was hardly known to the people. Furthermore, local government employees became victims of public criticisms. Similar phenomenon has been seen among Fukushima nuclear plant workers. These workers have experienced a whole array of traumatic stress, including near-death work experiences, irradiation fear, loss of their properties and their loved ones. The electric company has been blamed by the public for their disaster responses, so the public portrays these employees as disaster perpetrators. However, this trend is leading to serious discriminations and harassments, and adversely affecting their mental health. We all hope the recovery efforts to complete as soon as possible. However, when people criticize these workers, their burden of psychological trauma will continue to grow, and their recovery process will be impeded. It is crucial for the society to recognize these hard-working people and to show appreciation and support for their dedications.
Department of Psychiatry, National Defense Medical College.
Jun
J
Shigemura
Takeshi
T
Tanigawa
Shin-Ya
SY
Sano
Yutaka
Y
Sato
Aihide
A
Yoshino
Chiyo
C
Fujii
Yasutaka
Y
Tatsuzawa
Tatsuro
T
Kuwahara
Shoichi
S
Tachibana
Soichiro
S
Nomura
D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008603:Mental Health; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012306:Risk; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*