The city says some staff logged more than 200 hours of overtime on January as they worked around the clock to assist residents affected by the quake. Employees in departments that oversee evacuation centers and process disaster victim certificates were especially busy.
"We heard some of them say they were at their limit," said Kameyama Tetsuya, from the city’s secretarial and personnel division. "I’m glad to hear they’re getting the mental health care they need."
Seki Rieko of Narita Red Cross Hospital said people tasked with supporting disaster victims are reluctant to complain, and that makes the long hours even harder. "We hope we can provide them with a moment to unwind, even if it’s only for a short time," she said.