24 May 2012, Japan’s National Police Agency reports that their own study finds that at least 4% of police who responded to the disasters that began on 11 March 2011, are showing signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The study followed cops in the three hardest hit prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. The study also broke down results according to workload, and proximity to the ongoing nuclear disaster reactors at Fukushima Daiichi.
At least 10% of police officers, who’ve had an increase in workload since 11 March 2011, are showing more signs of PTSD. At least 7% of cops working near the GE designed reactors have signs of PTSD.
People working as police in the disaster areas are not only having to enforce laws and protect property, but they too are dealing with the disaster as victims as well.
The National Police Agency (NPA) says no cop has been officially/medically diagnosed with PTSD (’cause it could end their careers), but the NPA says it will work to create policies for coping with PTSD symptoms.