Some Aspects of “Mental Care” The Survey of Religious Consciousness at the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Area

• Published in: SOSHIOROJI Vol. 45; no. 3; pp. 19 - 34,153
• Main Author: WATANABE, Futoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: SHAKAIGAKU KENKYUKAI 28.02.2001
• Subjects: Counseling; Health Care Services; Japan; Mass Media Effects; Mental Health; Natural Disasters; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Psychiatry; Religiosity; Social Attitudes; Treatment Methods
• ISSN: 0584-1380; 2188-9406
• DOI: 10.14959/soshioroji.45.3_19

The aim of this paper is to explicate some aspects of "mental care" at the HanshinAwaji earthquake area. In the aftermath of the Kobe (Great Hanshin-Awaji) earthquake, the mass media reported the necessity for upholding victims in mental health, and then such terms as "mental care" or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) had become known to a wide public. After due consideration of precedent studies, we set up the hypothesis that the permeation of "mental care" had religious aspects. To examine this hypothesis, we conducted a questionnaire survey regarding religious consciousness and their attitude to "mental care" of earthquake victims in Higashinada Ward, Kobe City. 　Firstly, we found that there was statistically significant correlation between religious consciousness and needs of "mental care". Secondly, we examined what kind of "mental care" was needed at the earthquake area. The results suggested that respondents expected not only psychiatrists and counselors but also religious persons as agents of "mental care". This analysis showed that "mental care" both as psychiatric treatment and as religious healing were needed. 　Furthermore, we examined relations among variables regarding "mental care" in each demographic groups (gender, age, educational background).The results showed various patterns of correlation between expectation of "mental care" agents and needs of "mental care" in each demographic groups. We explained these complicated aspects of "mental care" were due to its symbolism as victims' wishes to be relieved.