PTSD, depression and help-seeking patterns following the Miyake Island volcanic eruption

Assessing help-seeking patterns following disaster provides useful information about who needs professional help the most, who is willing to seek help, and who is reluctant to seek help. 231 Japanese evacuees from the Miyake Island volcanic eruption (2000) participated in this study (ages 20-93, average age 59.52). Ten months after the evacuation, participants were mailed questionnaires which elicited demographic data, disaster experiences, help-seeking patterns, and psychological symptoms (Post-traumatic stress disorder and depression). Help-seeking patterns were categorized as: professionals (physicians, nurses, psychotherapists/counselors, telephone consultation, social workers, priests and monks, and others); or informal (family, relatives, friends, neighbors, and others) and, (information, advice, tangible, and emotional). The findings indicate that younger and/or female victims frequently sought help from informal sources while male and/or older victims frequently sought help from professionals. Severity of PTSD and depression symptoms were positively correlated with help-seeking from physicians, but not psychologists or mental health professionals. Very high rates of utilizing medical assistance rather than mental health treatment were also identified among these disaster victims, and appeared related to cultural norms regarding shame and self disclosure of emotional distress.