Women’s mental health following an earthquake disaster

Abstract

The author reported 2 female cases with mental disorders, and showed the change of the number of suicide attempt cases of both sexes, following the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, to focus on women’s mental health after the earthquake disaster. An increased number of crimes and abuses affected women’s mental health. For three years since 2012, the highest number of female suicide cases has been recorded during the period of July to September of each year. During these 3 months, there is Obon festival and holiday period, which tends to reveal intersexual as well as familial problems, and which may trigger mental disorders. Some factors which affect women’s mental health following an earthquake disaster were discussed.