[Dispatch of Psychiatrists to Okinawa and their Activities].

Abstract

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 Psychia- try 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/com- munity-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 Oki- nawa. 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 Oki- nawa's mental health care.