Mental Health Needs Associated with COVID-19 on the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship: A Case Series Recorded by the Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Team
26 Pages Posted: 11 Apr 2022
Abstract
In February of 2020, the Diamond Princess cruise ship was quarantined in Yokohama port, Japan following a passenger testing positive for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). During the quarantine period, the 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew members were confined to their cabins, with minimal contact with the outside world. We were sent to address the mental health issues associated with the quarantine situation as the Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Team (DPAT). In the present study, we examined the acute mental health needs of the passengers and crew collected by the DPAT using the standard Emergency Medical Team daily reporting system.
We assessed 206 cases (99 men and 107 women) with generic health issues and 127 cases (39 men and 88 women) with mental health issues. Mental health issues including disaster stress-related symptoms were as frequent as physical health events associated with COVID-19. The most significant mental health issue was anxiety, as an acute psychological reaction to the quarantine situation. Women, elderly people, and crew most frequently needed mental health support. Mental health improved in most clients after brief counseling. Although several passengers experienced suicidal ideation, there were no cases of actual suicide attempts during the quarantine period.
This case has been regarded as a well-known public health event at the beginning of the COVID-19 era. In addition to physical health support, disaster mental health support was essential to save lives. Our findings may facilitate responses to future quarantines, accidents, and mental health crises.
Note:
Funding Information: This paper comprises a part of “A Study on Activity periods and Quality Activity of Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Teams (DPATs)” that received support from the fiscal year 2021 Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Scientific Research Fund (Issue number: 21IA1301).
Conflict of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval: The Hiroshima University Ethics Committee has examined and approved the ethical procedure of this study (approval number: E-2059).
Keywords: COVID-19, Diamond Princess, quarantine, mental health needs
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