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

在1993年6月，我们进行了第三次一般健康问卷（GHQ）的疏散人员从云仙火山爆发的山。云仙（日本长崎县岛原半岛的岛原镇附近，自1991年3月以来一直持续）。我们调查了1991年11月进行的第一次GHQ、1992年6月进行的第二次GHQ和第三次GHQ的撤离人员所经历的压力严重程度的变化。1）观察在第一次GHQ中表现出“强（高）压力”的人，55.5%的人恢复到“中等压力”或“相当强（高）压力”（2）在第二次GHQ中表现为"强压力“的被试中，在第3次GHQ中，44.8%的植株恢复到“中度胁迫”或“较强（高）胁迫”，55.2%的植株仍处于“强胁迫”状态。有强烈压力需要密切关注的人占19.8%，第二总医院为17.0% 4）三次调查中有较强压力需要照顾的比例分别为47.1%、41.1%和39.6%; 5）有中等压力不需要照顾的比例为33.1%，3次调查的应力强度分别为41.9%和42.9%。从应力强度的疏散面积和土石崩落破坏面积的分布来看，在被取消疏散但曾被土石崩毁的地区，人们发现压力大的人明显更频繁。虽然目前的健康咨询、健康检查和社区护士的探访似乎相当有效，但由于这种情况持续下去，看不到尽头，因此有必要为慢性精神病症状患者建立一个支助系统。

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.