Practicing telephone support for a caregivers with a child: The Fukushima Health Management Survey

Abstract

We conducted a mental health and lifestyle survey after the disaster in 2011. Self-assessment scales were distributed to 200,000 inhabitants living in the coastal area of Fukushima, and telephone, as well as postal interventions, were provided for residents at risk of psychological or behavioral problems. We retrospectively examined the effectiveness and limitations of telephone support for children and their parents during the five years from 2011 to 2016. The results of telephone support indicated poor physical conditions and school maladjustment. Moreover, 21.6% of the children were judged as arousing concern in 2013, whereas approximately 13% were judged as otherwise. It is suggested that providing support by telephones is effective in the case of large-scale disasters with a high impact and a large number of victims.