1 The Mental Health Care Team of Fukushima Medical University
After the complex disaster of East Japan Great Earthquake and Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident, the mental health care team of Fukushima Medical University has engaged in medical and psychiatric care at evacuation centers, counseling at healthcare centers, handling cases of emergency admission, outreach services of home assistance, and counseling of support providers. Advisement and counseling for parents with little children regarding fear to nuclear pollution is one important issue.
2 Important Issues and Future Directions of Mental Health Care in Fukushima
The following issues are thought important for mental health care over the following several years; 1) maintaining clinics and hospitals for psychiatric patients, 2) treatment of new cases of PTSD, alcohol abuse or others, 3) preservation of physical and mental abilities of elderly residents at temporary houses, 4) prevention of suicide, 5) improvement of mental health care competence of medical and welfare professionals.
In order to complete the above issues, we need foundation of mental health care centers and special system for mental health care of children covering the whole prefecture and continuing at least over the following decade.
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