People Linked to Arson-Hit Osaka Clinic Helping Ex-Patients

From Jiji

March 17 2022

OSAKA – With Thursday marking three months since a deadly arson attack on an Osaka mental health clinic, those involved in the clinic have started to help people who became unable to receive treatment there due to the incident. 

A clinical psychotherapist who was working at the western Japan clinic and the younger sister of the head of the clinic, who was among the 26 people killed in the attack, assist former patients so that they can move on from the tragedy by helping them find closure and listening to and sharing their woes.

Ayano Hamauchi, the clinical psychotherapist, started in late January connecting former patients and counsellors not harmed in the fire through Twitter.

Not only did the arson attack claim the lives of patients and counsellors, but it also abruptly deprived other patients of the opportunity to receive counseling at the clinic.

Hamauchi said she decided to connect former patients to counsellors, as she grew concerned that some patients were unable to accept what had happened when she saw Twitter posts wondering whether their counsellors were safe.