The Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology Response to the Great East Japan Earthquake

As of May 19, 2011

Friday, March 11, 2011
At approximately 2:46 p.m., a magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurs in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Tohoku region.

Sunday, March 13
The President’s Advisory Council of the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (JSPN) asks JSPN member Yoshiharu Kim to chair the “Disaster Response Committee”; Kim accedes to this request.

Tuesday, March 15
The President’s Advisory Council posts “A message to persons in the disaster region and persons providing medical assistance” on the JSPN Web site.

Wednesday, March 16
Board member Tsuyoshi Akiyama contacts Dr. Shekhar Saxena, Dr. Mark Van Ommeren, and Yutaro Setoya at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, and discusses possible collaboration between WHO and JSPN.

Thursday, March 17
A Disaster Response Committee Preparatory Conference was held.

Attendees
Tsuyoshi Akiyama (Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology)
Yoshiharu Kim, Yuriko Suzuki, Satomi Nakajima, Kenichi Kuriyama (National Institute of Mental Health at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry)
Hiroshi Kato (Hyogo Institute for Traumatic Stress)
Takahisa Saiga (Japanese Red Cross Narita Hospital)
Masahiko Shido (Japanese Association of Neuro-Psychiatry Clinics)
Yayoi Imamura (Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital)

(Attending via Skype)
Mie Kurosawa (Iwate Mental Health & Welfare Center)
Kohei Yamamoto (Ritsumeikan University)

Discussion
The following items were discussed.

1. Necessity of having external personnel provide support to psychiatric facilities in affected areas
2. Confirming the status of hospitals in areas affected by the disaster
3. Issues related to the role of the committee
4. Mailing list and Web site issues

   a.  Creation of a JSPN-based mailing list

   b.  Posting content from the National Institute of Mental Health Web site on the JSPN Web site.

5. Confirming conditions in Iwate Prefecture
6. Aid currently required in Iwate Prefecture

   a.  Establishment of psychiatric first-aid centers.

   b.  Aid to local psychiatric hospitals.

   c.  Personnel to staff telephones and coordinate at regional mental health and welfare centers.

   d.  Gasoline, pharmaceutical products, satellite telephones.

   e.  Support staff for regional mental health and welfare centers

7. Actions taken by the Japanese Association of Psychiatric Hospitals (JAPH) (information provided by Dr. Hiroshi Matsuda)

   a.  Establishment of a disaster response center, with membership comprising the association president, vice president, and others.

   b.  Efforts to confirm conditions at each hospital in the affected region.

   c.  Compilation of a list of persons willing to be dispatched to affected areas.

8. Actions taken by the Japanese Red Cross Society
9. Confirmation of means of communication
10. Defining roles to be filled in areas hit by the disaster, and areas outside the disaster region

    a.  It would be helpful at the local level if persons dispatched to affected areas first undergo relief worker training, etc., at the National Institute of Mental Health at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry.

    b.  It would be useful to have a central repository for updated information on conditions in the disaster region.

11. Support for children
12. Assessing the stress levels of aid workers
13. Arrangements for assisting non-Japanese persons
14. Support for Miyagi Prefecture
15. Cooperation with overseas organizations

    The Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology will publicly announce its cooperation and collaboration with WHO, the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), and International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS); it will not be able to respond to offers from other organizations and/or individuals, due to limited staffing.

16. Long-term support framework

    a.  The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is planning to refine its system for medium- to long-term dispatch of personnel.

    b.  If relief work ends up being conducted over several years under some type of reconstruction fund, current circumstances would result in such work being undertaken by private sector groups. This would prove problematic, however, so the focus will be to support such efforts as the creation of specialized positions in public health centers, etc.

17. Media relations
18. Coordination with the Japan Primary Care Association

Saturday, March 19
A special meeting of the President's Advisory Council was held to address the topics listed below.

JSPN response going forward.
•  Establishment of a Disaster Response Operations Center (general director: Haruo Kashima).
•  Collection of donations to be distributed directly to persons affected by the disaster.
•  Delivery of pharmaceutical products to areas affected by the disaster.
Postponement of the 107th JSPN annual meeting.

Wednesday, March 23
The first “Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology Eastern Japan Disaster Response Operations Center Conference” was held.

Attendees
From the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology:
Haruo Kashima (chair, board of directors; center general director)
Tadahiko Sato (member, board of directors)
Masahiko Mikuni (member, board of directors)
Tsuyoshi Akiyama (member, board of directors)

From the National Institute of Mental Health at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry:
Yuriko Suzuki
Satomi Nakajima

(Attending via Skype)
Mie Kurosawa (Iwate Mental Health & Welfare Center)
Yoshiharu Kim (National Institute of Mental Health at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry)
Hiroshi Kato (Hyogo Institute for Traumatic Stress)

Discussion
The following items were discussed.

1. Opening remarks by the general director of the Disaster Response Operations Center and the chair of the Disaster Response Committee

   Center general director Haruo Kashima, JSPN board chair, and committee chair Yoshiharu Kim, JSPN member, each made opening remarks.

2. Self-introductions
3. Designation of Operations Center executive director

   Center general director Haruo Kashima, JSPN board chair, appointed JSPN board member Tsuyoshi Akiyama as executive director of the Disaster Response Operations Center.

4. Operations Center staff

   Staffing of the Operations Center was discussed, and it was decided to increase the number of center staff members.

5. Reports on current conditions, etc.

   a.  Supply of pharmaceuticals to affected areas.

   b.  Disaster Response Committee chair Yoshiharu Kim will conduct support for Iwate Prefecture, while committee members Hiroshi Kato and Yuriko Suzuki will handle support for Miyagi Prefecture.

6. Collection of information on affected areas and relief/support activities

   It is necessary to compile information related to the Tohoku support mailing list, subject to the consent of Dr. Yasunari Kawazoe.

7. Operations

   a.  Division of responsibilities between Disaster Response Committee and Disaster Response Operations Center
   The committee will determine guiding principles for the collection of information, etc., from an expert perspective, while the operations center will perform coordination activities between all relevant parties/entities.

   b.  Conference schedule
   Disaster Response Operations Center conferences will be held once every two weeks.

8. Other items

   a.  Official position of, and insurance for, mental health care teams
   The status of private-sector hospital employees who join relief teams, as well as insurance for them, is to be investigated.

   b.  Surveys and research studies
   The current situation does not allow for the conduct of research studies. The issue of performing studies in the future will be considered in connection with the conduct of relief work in affected areas. The possibility of partnering with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and the World Psychiatric Association, will be considered.

   c.  Mailing list
   A mailing list will be created that includes the Disaster Response Operations Center and collaborating organizations. This mailing list will be for the purpose of organization planning, proposal development, and implementation.

Friday, March 25
Based on information obtained from Dr. Shirasawa, a request to ship pharmaceutical products was conveyed to Miyagi Prefecture via the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Saturday, March 26
A report on the status of JSPN disaster response efforts was delivered at a reception for organizations of mental health workers.

Thursday, March 31

• The JSPN announced the postponement, etc., of its 107th annual meeting on its Web site.
• Work on registering e-mail addresses, etc., for the Tohoku support mailing list was begun after receiving work performed to-date from Dr. Yasunari Kawazoe.

April 2011
Friday, April 1
A telephone conference was held to discuss a possible joint project between the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) and the JSPN to provide assistance related to the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Participating in the conference were WPA President Mario Maj; Prof. Evelyn Bromet, an expert on projects to support people affected by nuclear power plant accidents; Yoshiharu Kim, chair of the Disaster Response Committee; Tsuyoshi Akiyama, executive director of the Disaster Response Operations Center; and Yuriko Suzuki and Satomi Nakajima, committee members.

Wednesday, April 6
The second Eastern Japan Disaster Response Operations Center Conference was held.

Attendees
From the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology:
Haruo Kashima (center general director)
Tsuyoshi Akiyama (center executive director)
Yoshiharu Kim (committee chair)
Yuriko Suzuki (committee member)
Satomi Nakajima (committee member)
Tadahiko Sato (member, board of directors)
Masahiko Mikuni (member, board of directors)
Yuji Okazaki (member, board of directors)

Other organizations
Kiyoto Kasai (Psychiatry Training Organizers Conference)
Hiroshi Mastuda (Japanese Association of Psychiatric Hospitals; member, JSPN board of directors)
Toyoji Nakashima (Division of Psychiatry, Japan Municipal Hospital Association)
Yasunari Kawazoe (Division of Psychiatry, Japan Municipal Hospital Association)
Shuichiro Fujiwara (Japanese Society of General Hospital Psychiatry)
Toru Yamazaki (Japanese Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
Fumitaka Noda (Japanese Society of Transcultural Psychiatry)
Mariko Okumura  (Japanese Society of Certified Clinical Psychologists)
Ritsuko Tsugawa (Japanese Society of Certified Clinical Psychologists)
Junko Otsuka (Japanese Association of Psychiatric Social Workers)
Mineki Sasaki (Tokyo English Life Line)

Secretary
Maiko Fukazawa (National Institute of Mental Health)

(Attending via Skype)
Mie Kurosawa (Iwate Mental Health & Welfare Center)
Satoko Kobara (Miyagi Mental Health & Welfare Center)
Kazunori Matsumoto (Tohoku University)
Hidekatsu Shirasawa (Tohokukai Mental Hospital)
Hiroshi Kato (Japanese Society for Traumatic Stress Studies; Hyogo Institute for Traumatic Stress)
Shinji Hosoda (member, JSPN board of directors)
Norio Ozaki (Psychiatry Training Organizers Conference)

Discussion
The following items were discussed.

1. Overview of the Operations Center and collaborating organizations
2. Conditions in disaster areas and assessment of need for pharmaceuticals (Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures)
3. Strategies for reducing the burden of staff members in affected areas (dissemination of IASC guidelines digest, etc.)
4. Reports on activities by collaborating organizations, etc.
5. Compilation of information from medical facilities, collaborating organizations, and the Tohoku support mailing list
6. Plans for holding a workshop on emergency aid issues at the May 21 general assembly
7. Offer of support from the International Medical Corps
8. Perspectives on psychosocial support (IASC guidelines, etc.)
9. Perspectives on medium- to long-term assistance
10. Public release and English translation of meeting minutes
11. Joint relief project with the World Psychiatric Association

Saturday, April 16
At a meeting of the executive committee of the World Psychiatric Association, Tsuyoshi Akiyama, executive director of the Disaster Response Operations Center, reported on the response to the disaster by the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology. It was noted that the impact of psychological stress related to the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant was being felt around the world. Additionally, meeting participants discussed the desirability of moving forward with preparations for disasters that may occur in the future, based on joint efforts by the WPA, the JSPN, and professional psychiatric associations in each country.

Wednesday, April 25
The third Eastern Japan Disaster Response Operations Center Conference was held.

Attendees
From the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology:
Haruo Kashima (center general director)
Tsuyoshi Akiyama (center executive director)
Yoshiharu Kim (committee chair)
Yuriko Suzuki (committee member)
Satomi Nakajima (committee member)
Masahiko Mikuni (member, board of directors)
Yuji Okazaki (member, board of directors)

Other organizations
Masahiko Shido (Japanese Association of Neuro-Psychiatric Clinics)
Takashi Asada (Psychiatry Training Organizers Conference)
Kiyoto Kasai (Psychiatry Training Organizers Conference)
Yasunari Kawazoe (Japan Municipal Hospital Association)
Shuichiro Fujiwara (Japanese Society of General Hospital Psychiatry)
Masaru Murakami (Association of Directors of National Mental Hospitals)
Koji Tsuboi (Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine)
Masahiro Hashizume (Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine)
Mariko Okumura (Japanese Society of Certified Clinical Psychologists)
Ritsuko Tsugawa (Japanese Society of Certified Clinical Psychologists)
Kiyoka Nozue (Japan Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing)
Kimiko Matsuda (Japanese Society of Hospital Pharmacists)
Ryoko Ohtaki (Tokyo English Life Line)
Junichiro Ito (National Institute of Mental Health)
Maiko Fukazawa; meeting secretary (National Institute of Mental Health)
Hiroshi Kuwahara (Japanese Association of Mental Health and Welfare Center Directors)

(Attending via V-cube)
Mie Kurosawa (Iwate Mental Health & Welfare Center)
Satoko Kobara (Miyagi Mental Health & Welfare Center)
Kazunori Matsumoto (Tohoku University)
Hidekatsu Shirasawa (Tohokukai Mental Hospital)
Toyoji Nakashima (Japan Municipal Hospital Association)
Shinji Hosoda (member, JSPN board of directors)

Discussion
The following items were discussed.

1. Report of newly participating organizations
2. Conditions and initial efforts in areas affected by the disaster; medium- and long-term plans; requests to academic societies (Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures)
3. Self-introductions
4. Reports on activities by collaborating organizations, etc.
5. Report by the Disaster Response Committee
6. Collection and organization of opinions on proposal by Dr. Mitsumoto Sato
7. Official status of, and guarantees for, dispatched staff members
8. Requests for cooperation related to the engagement of volunteer telephone counselors
9. Collaboration with the Japan Medical Association, the Japan Primary Care Association, the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Japan Pediatric Society
10. Joint projects with the World Psychiatric Association
11. First draft of “Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology Disaster Response Guidelines and Procedures”