Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on the Employment Status and Mental Health Conditions of Affected Coastal Communities

Abstract

The Great East Japan Earthquake devasted the old community in coastal areas characterized by primary industry. The number of unemployed people increased from 150,000 to 190,000 after the earthquake. All of the adult residents of Shichigahama (18 years old or older), located in the coastal area of the Miyagi prefecture, whose houses were totally or majorly damaged, were recruited for a survey conducted in October 2011. All of the residents who responded with written informed consent were included in this study. Among 904 individuals who had a job before the Great East Japan Earthquake, 19% became unemployed. Concerning gender and age, 9% of young men, 34% of elderly men, 21% of young women, and 49% of elderly women became unemployed. Concerning the type of industry, 38%, 15%, and 16% of people who had belonged to the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, respectively, before the disaster became unemployed. Those who became unemployed exhibited a significantly higher risk of insomnia compared to those who maintained jobs. The study pointed out the severe impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on populations who had belonged to the primary industry, especially among elderly women, and its effect on sleep conditions.

Editors’ Comments on the Special Issue “Social Determinants of Mental Health”

“…The conversion of household registration could improve the happiness of migrant workers with low educational backgrounds, low income, and contracted land. Another piece of research studied how a threatening event, such as the Great East Japan earthquake that occurred in 2011, impacted the affected population [ 25 ]. This disaster caused a high rate of unemployment in the coastal communities, which in turn negatively impacted their mental health.…”

Lessons learned from psychosocial support and mental health surveys during the 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake: Establishing evidence‐based disaster psychiatry

“…41,42 (2)-6.Cohort studies in Shichigahama Town, Miyagi Prefecture The Graduate School of Medicine and International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS) of Tohoku University conducted 10 years of annual surveys to assess the psychosocial aspects of all residents whose houses were majorly damaged by the disaster in the town of Shichigahama, Miyagi prefecture. [43][44][45][46] The studies suggested associations between psychological distress and physical conditions among residents affected by the disaster. [47][48][49] Like other affected areas, living conditions, 43,50,51 employment status, 46 daily walking habit 45 and social capital 44 were associated with the mental health of the affected community.…”

“…[43][44][45][46] The studies suggested associations between psychological distress and physical conditions among residents affected by the disaster. [47][48][49] Like other affected areas, living conditions, 43,50,51 employment status, 46 daily walking habit 45 and social capital 44 were associated with the mental health of the affected community.…”

“…The Graduate School of Medicine and International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS) of Tohoku University conducted 10 years of annual surveys to assess the psychosocial aspects of all residents whose houses were majorly damaged by the disaster in the town of Shichigahama, Miyagi prefecture 43–46 . The studies suggested associations between psychological distress and physical conditions among residents affected by the disaster 47–49 .…”

PTSD and Depression 8 Years After the 2004 Tsunami in Sri Lanka

“…20 In a longitudinal study in the Netherlands, severe PTSD symptoms persisted in 16.7% of the participants who were affected by an explosion of a firework storage building even after 10 y. 21 After the Great East Japan Earthquake and the collapse of the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the surrounding communities suffered from posttraumatic stress reactions with the prevalence of 14.1-24.9% within 1 y and 15-18.1% within 3 y, [22][23][24][25][26] and this coupled with weakened community responses went on to cause chronic physical diseases, anxiety, and increases in disaster-related suicide in Fukushima in the long-term. 24,27,28 In our previous study of the population affected from the Indian Ocean Tsunami and living in temporary shelter, we found that female gender and causal belief patterns are associated with development of PTSD 6 mo posttsunami.…”