As a part of the medical assistance project for Okinawa, where the land and their people were devastated by the Pacific War, the Japanese Government launched a program to dispatch medical doctors.
The dispatch of psychiatrists started in 1964, and lasted for 13 years. During this period, a total of 83 doctors joined this project. Their term was 3-6 months.
To promote the smooth implementation of this program, the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (JSPN) established the Committee of Mental Health Care for Okinawa (CMHCO) and supported their activities. This support included: 1)supporting medical care in hospitals/counseling in public health centers, 2) activities for promoting mental health/community-based psychiatric treatment, 3) guidance and advice for local medical workers, and 4) sharing opinions with Ryukyu and Japanese governments.
The CMCHO's activities contributed to improve the mental health care condition in Okinawa. Now, the qualities of facilities and human resources are above the national average. Rates of the isolation and restraint of inpatients, which indicate the quality of care, are low. The CMCHO's activities have written a significant page in the history of JSPN as well as Okinawa's mental health care.
<Author's abstract>
Dispatch of Psychiatrists to Okinawa and their Activities
1 Professor Emeritus, University of the Ryukyus
2 Adviser, Kuda Hospital
2 Adviser, Kuda Hospital
Psychiatria et Neurologia Japonica
118: 212-219, 2016
<Keywords:the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology, Okinawa's mental health care, psychiatrist dispatch system, medical assistance, voluntary disaster relief activity>