Mental health and school-based intervention among adolescent exposed to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami

Abstract

This study examined the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 101 adolescents for 3 years after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The findings showed that 15.6%, 51.4%, and 18.7% of participants reported clinical symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD 1 year after the earthquake. The effectiveness of a school-based intervention for high-risk students was examined for 3 years. Adolescents who received the intervention at 16 months after the earthquake in 2012 (19.8%), and who received the intervention at 28 months in 2013 (21.8%) showed improved anxiety symptoms. However, 37.6% students showed no intervention effect, despite undergoing the intervention twice. Overall, high school students with poor psychological test scores in their first year might require help from a specialized agency, such as a hospital with a pediatric psychiatry department.