Two years after the heavy rains in western Japan 60% of the survey conducted on victims of "physical and mental health problems" victims July 5, 7:41

k10012497111_202007050737_202007050739.mp4

It has been almost two years since the heavy rains in western Japan, but when NHK surveyed over 3,500 disaster victims in the four prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama, Ehime, and Yamaguchi, it became clear that 60% felt physically and mentally unwell. It was Experts point out, "It is difficult to understand the situation of the victims due to the influence of the new coronavirus, and it is necessary to provide more detailed support than before."

From May to last month, NHK conducted a questionnaire targeting over 11,000 victims of the four prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama, Ehime, and Yamaguchi, and received responses from 32%, or 3540 people.

Among them, when asked if the heavy rains in western Japan still had an effect on the mind and body, 28% of the respondents were "yes" and 32% were "somewhat", which was 60% in total.

When we asked multiple people who answered that they had physical and mental effects with specific symptoms, 35% said they could not sleep well and 17% said they needed a drug.

In the affected areas of each region, public health nurses and other people carry out regular monitoring activities for victims in need of assistance, but some local governments have been forced to refrain from or reduce their activities due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection. There is.

Regarding the results of the questionnaire Professor Rei Kimura, a university at the University of Hyogo, who specializes in disaster prevention psychology and is well-versed in disaster victim support, said, "In the midst of rebuilding our lives for two years after the disaster, various physical and psychological effects have been shown. The new coronavirus makes it difficult to meet and understand the situation of the victims, so we need to use letters to provide even more detailed support.” I'm pointing out.

"Effects on mind and body"

Naoko Ogami (72) from Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, who answered in the questionnaire that the heavy rains in western Japan have an impact on the mind and body.

Two years ago, my house in the Koyaura area of ​​Sakamachi was damaged by a large amount of sediment and a large-scale collapse.

Mr. Ogami was safely evacuated to a relative's house near him, but he was forced to dismantle his house, and after two months of heavy rain, he has been living alone in a deemed temporary house in the neighboring city of Kure. I will.

Immediately after the heavy rain, I was unable to sleep because of fear of rain and anxiety about living in an unknown area, and I was asked by a medical institution to prescribe a new drug for the treatment of insomnia.

Until this winter, I attended the exchange meeting hosted by the city's support center, but after that, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, the exchange meeting of people living in deemed temporary housing such as Okami will not be held, and an opportunity to go out Is said to have decreased.

Ogami says that even on a rainy day, he remembers a torrential rain, and his fear sometimes shakes his body, causing tears to stop.

Ogami said, "When it rains or the wind blows, I wake up to the sound and wake up every hour. I'm scared, I open and close the curtain repeatedly, and I remember myself. It's a pity, because there are a lot of rainy days at this time, so it keeps me worried."

Expert "It is necessary to provide detailed support"

Responding to the fact that most of the victims answered that they were physically and mentally ill in the questionnaire, Professor Rei Kimura of the University of Hyogo, who specializes in disaster prevention psychology and is well-versed in disaster victim support, said, ``In the process of rebuilding our lives for two years after the disaster. It can be seen that the physical and psychological effects are being manifested due to various reasons, such as using letters because it is difficult for the new coronavirus to meet and understand the situation of the victims. It is necessary to provide more detailed support than ever before."