Relationship between experience of support of clinical psychologists in mental health and welfare activities in disaster-stricken areas and skill proficiency level

Abstract

In the present study, a survey was conducted on the proficiency level of skills related to mental health activities after the disaster in the regions affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. This study also aimed to clarify ‹1› the relationship between support experience and level of knowledge and skills in regional mental health activities at the time of disaster, ‹2› the relationship between experience to acquire knowledge and skills in regional mental health activities at the time of disaster experience studying and the utility of that knowledge and these skills, and ‹3› the relationship between experience to acquire knowledge and skills and the subjective difficulty of those skills. The study thus aims to identify elements of educational approaches needed for disaster support by clinical psychologists. As factors significantly related to the high awareness of the importance of knowledge and skills in regional mental health activities at the time of disaster, items such as the following were extracted: “experience of support through interprofessional collaboration”, “experience of disaster support through mental health care team activities”, and so on. As factors significantly related to high degree of utility of knowledge and skills in regional mental health activities at the time of disaster, “experience in the field of welfare” and “experience of support for educational institutions such as schools” were identified. The principal aim of the present study was to clarify the skills necessary for clinical psychologists, but it is important for psychological professionals to acquire the competency required for developing organizational activities that are not limited to any one occupation. In addition, it is necessary to clarify the skills expected of clinical psychologists by other professionals as related to support through interprofessional collaboration in the event of a disaster.