JP

Organization

Research Division

Disaster Medical Science Division
Disaster Public Health Lab
Associate Professor
M.D., Ph.D.
Concurrent: Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization
Research Subject(s)
After devastating disasters, the health status of those affected would be impacted both physically and mentally to a certain extent. The role of disaster public health is to consider and implement measures to reduce the impact on health among affected residents. We consistently ask ourselves, "Are the current post-disaster health activities genuinely reducing the health impact among affected residents?" and aim to conduct an evaluation of these post-disaster health activities.
Key Words
Disaster Public Health / Epidemiology / Suicide / Mental Health / Health Project Evaluation
Website
Research Activities

I have worked in governmental offices for over 10 years, nothing but academia, supporting to affected residents following the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). As part of these activities, I have implemented to monitor of the suicide rates in Miyagi Prefecture. These findings were utilized as critical information to determine how to manage mental health activities. In fact, even more than five years after the GEJE, the suicide rate increased only in the affected area, which was related to the termination of the provision of temporary housing, and in response to this, mental health activities were continued and extended.

Under the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we had a concern the suicide rate in the areas affected by the GEJE would increase further since a high suicide rate had continued from the termination of provision of temporary housing, but it actually decreased (Orui M. Crisis, 2023). We thought the reason was "continuation of mental care activities even during the COVID-19 pandemic." In the affected area, providing support was continuing, and when necessary, procedures for applying for the special grant from the government were explained. We believe continuing individually outreach support will be a hint for suicide prevention after devastating disasters.

Finally, I have conducted a literature review regarding suicide prevention measures following disasters. As a result, one of the most crucial measures was that outreach support to "highly vulnerable groups", which are continuing support to those who are the needy or have difficulty connecting with any support. It is inevitable that disasters will occur in the future. However, based on the hints given above, we would like to reconsider the disaster health measures and practice in the field of disaster public health with epidemiological methods to "prevent an increase in suicide rates even after a disaster."

Selected Works
  • Orui M. et al. (2015). Delayed increase in male suicide rates in tsunami disaster-stricken areas following the great east Japan earthquake: a three-year follow-up study in Miyagi Prefecture. Tohoku J Exp Med. 235, 215-222. doi: 10.1620/tjem.235.215.
  • Orui M. et al. (2017). Practical Report on Long-term Disaster Mental Health Services Following the Great East Japan Earthquake: Psychological and Social Background of Evacuees in Sendai City in the Mid- to Long-term Post-disaster Period. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 11, 439-450. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2016.157.
  • Orui M. et al. (2018). Mental Health Recovery of Evacuees and Residents from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident after Seven Years-Contribution of Social Network and a Desirable Lifestyle. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 15, 2381. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15112381.
  • Orui M. et al. (2021). Saeki S, Harada S, Hayashi M. Practical Report of Disaster-Related Mental Health Interventions Following the Great East Japan Earthquake during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Potential for Suicide Prevention. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 18, 10424. doi: 10.3390/ijerph181910424. 
  • Orui M. (2023). Disaster and Suicide Prevention Activities: A Literature Review Focused on Suicide-Related Outcomes. Journal of Suicidology. 2023, 18(2): 518-528. doi:10.30126/JoS.202306_18(2).0004. 
Selected Memberships
  • Japanese Society of Public Health
  • Japan Epidemiological Association
  • Japanese Society of Social Psychiatry
  • The Japanese Society of Psychiarty and Neurology
  • Japanese Association for Suicide Prevention
Selected Awards
  • Excellent Presentation Award, 33rd Japanese Society of Social Psychiatry (2014)
  • Young Investigator's Award, Japanese Society of Public Health (2019)
  • Best Reviewer Award, Japanese Journal of Public Health (2020)
Others

Birth place: Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata Prefectural Shinjo Kita High School (1995)
Yamagata University School of Medicine (2001)
Yamagata Prefectural Office (2004)
Sendai City Office (2013)
Department pf Public Health, Fukushima Medical University, School of Medicine (2016)
Sendai City Office (2019)
Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University (2023)