Abstract
This article describes psychological support provided by clinical psychologists (CPs), in liaison with other professionals, for the Great East Japan Earthquake victims at a secondary evacuation center located in central Tokyo. The purpose of this intervention is to prevent solitary death and suicides. Nurses and CPs had organizes a team which provided consultation about health problems, psychological and social concerns. The team worked well, because of having frequent conference and consultation. So, we exchanged and shared information and pursued solutions in cooperation.
In about three months of our intervention, there were 740 visits in total and 92 out of them had complaints about mental problems. Forty of them were referred to CPs' interviews. Sleeplessness and nervousness were the most common problems among them. In such cases CPs had employed 'body and mind' approach, instructing them how to relax by breathing techniques. Fortunately, no solitary deaths and suicides have been reported so far. In conclusion, it is realized that the cooperation and mutual understanding among the professionals involved are the key to the success of this type of intervention and we should know each other and enhance the sense of cooperation through the daily clinical work.
