Three years have passed since the first confirmed case of the new coronavirus in Japan, but NPOs that provide consultations are constantly receiving various concerns, not limited to coronavirus, regardless of generation.
The staff is raising a sense of crisis, especially as the elderly are seeing a situation where the feeling of loneliness is increasing.
The NPO "Tokyo Mental Health Square" in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, offers some free consultations via phone and SNS.
It is possible to consult anonymously, and in the last three years of the corona crisis, the number of consultations via online chat has increased, and currently about 4,000 to 5,000 cases are received per month.
In the two years of 2020, when the first infection was confirmed in Japan, and the following year, 2021, there were conspicuous consultations on concerns about symptoms that would appear if infected and how to deal with them after infection. .
Waves of infection were repeated, and the number of consultations was on the rise, but since the 7th wave last August, it has calmed down a bit.
These days, the content of consultations has diversified, such as various daily worries such as workplaces, schools, relationships with family and friends.
In addition, we have received consultations from the elderly, such as that they are becoming more isolated due to the lack of interaction in their hometowns and neighborhoods due to the corona disaster, and that they are worried about infection even under such circumstances. , NPOs are raising a sense of crisis as they see the situation where the elderly are becoming increasingly lonely.
Kiyohide Muto, chairman of the non-profit organization Tokyo Mental Health Square, said, ``In my heart, I'm oversensitive to the slightest things, and communication problems such as misunderstandings due to lack of communication are increasing as consultations for worries. I want you to use a place like this to vent your feelings."