Investigation of Psychological Effects of Volcanic Eruptions of Mt. Unzen and the Establishment of a Mental Health Support System

1993年6月，我们对因云顶火山喷发而疏散的居民进行了第三次一般健康问卷调查。Unzen(日本长崎县岛原半岛岛原镇附近，自1991年3月以来一直在继续)。我们调查了1991年11月进行的第一次、1992年6月第二次和第三次的疏散人员感受到的压力严重程度的变化。1)观察在第一次行动中表现出“强(高)压力”的人，55.5%的人在第三次行动中恢复到“中等压力”或“相当强(高)压力”(介于“强”和“中等压力”之间)，而44.5%的人仍然有“强压力”。2)在第二次“强压力”的人群中，44.8%的人在第三宿舍恢复到中等压力或相当强(高)的压力，55.2%的人仍然有很强的压力。3)在第一宿舍，有强烈压力需要密切关注的人的比例是19.8%，第二宿舍是17.0%，第三宿舍是17.5%。4)有相当强压力需要照顾的人的比例是47.1%，3次调查分别为41.1%和39.6%。5)三次调查中，中度应激和不需要特别护理的比例分别为33.1%、41.9%和42.9%。从疏散区域和土石方破坏区域的压力严重程度分布来看，取消疏散但曾发生一次土石方破坏的地区明显更容易出现强应激。S健康咨询、健康检查和社区护士走访等早期支持系统似乎进行得很有效。但由于这种情况仍在继续，看不到结束的迹象，有必要为有慢性精神症状的人建立支持系统。

In June, 1993, we conducted a third General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) among the evacuees resulting from the Unzen volcanic eruptions of Mt. Unzen (near the town of Shimabara, in the Shimabara Peninsula in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan which has been continuing since March 1991). We investigated changes in the severity of stress experienced by the evacuees who answered the first GHQ conducted in November 1991, the second GHQ in June 1992 and the third GHQ.1) Looking at people who showed 'strong (high) stress' in the 1st GHQ, 55.5% of them recovered to 'moderate stress' or 'quite strong (high) stress' (which is intermediate between 'strong ' and 'moderate stress') in the 3rd GHQ, while 44.5% of them still had 'strong stress'.2) Among those who showed 'strong stress' in the 2nd GHQ, 44.8% of them recovered to 'moderate stress' or 'quite strong (high) stress', in the 3rd GHQ, and 55.2% of them still had 'strong stress'.3)In the 1st GHQ, the percentage of people who had strong stress and therefore needed to be closely watched was 19.8% and in the 2nd GHQ it was 17.0% and in the 3rd GHQ it was 17.5%.4) The percentage of people who had quite strong stress and needed some care was 47.1%, 41.1% and 39.6% respectively in the three surveys.5) The percentage of people who had moderate stress and needed no particular care was 33.1%, 41.9% and 42.9% respectively in the three surveys.Looking at the distribution of severity of stress by evacuated area and area mdamaged by avalanches of earth and rocks, people with strong stress were found significantly more frequently in areas in which evacuation was canceled but which had been damaged by avalanches of earth and rocks once.Early support systems such s health consultations, health examinations and visits of community nurses seem to be being conducted quite effectively, but as the situations continues with no end in sight, it is necessary to establish a support system for people with chronic psychiatric symptoms.