In Stressful Wake of Fukushima Disaster, Japan Now Dealing With ‘Atomic Divorce’

It’s been almost two years since the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated northern Japan, and caused one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents.

The reactor at Fukushima went into a triple melt-down and radiation contaminated much of the surrounding area.

The radiation risk persists, leaving people in the region in a constant state of anxiety and stress.

One psychologist says suicide, depression, alcoholism, gambling and domestic abuse are all up in the region.

The stress has even created a new phenomenon: “genpatsu rikon,” or “atomic divorce,” says Abigail Haworth.

Haworth wrote a piece on the issues for the magazine of Britain’s Observer newspaper.

“One psychologist I spoke to said she was basically overwhelmed,” says Haworth

There’s also a perception of discrimination against people from the region, who are perceived as ‘tainted.’