2024 Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 54-64
Thirteen years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the reconstruction of the affected areas, particularly in Fukushima Prefecture after the nuclear power plant accident, faces many challenges while it progresses. This article reviews the reconstruction process of the Fukushima disaster and discusses current issues, mainly focusing on the activities of the Fukushima Center for Disaster Mental Health (FCDMH), a large-scale support organization dealing with mental health issues. In the evacuation areas, while the return of evacuees has not progressed, the number of relocated residents not experiencing the disaster has increased rapidly, and there is an unexpected, solid movement to form new communities. As resources to provide mental health support, including psychiatric institutions, are still scarce, the role of the FCDMH will continue to be significant. As the issues of supporting evacuated people and revitalizing affected communities are now diverging, the question is how to provide flexible, sustainable support from a long-term perspective.
