Level of Education of Students Involved

Undergraduate

Faculty Sponsor

Caroline Ban

College

Arts and Sciences

Discipline(s)

Social Work, Sociology, Mental Health, Political Science

ORCID Identifier(s)

0009-0000-8102-4239

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Symposium Date

Spring 4-25-2024

Abstract

The Japanese American incarceration during World War II under Executive Order 9066 signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt remains a poignant chapter in American history. Unknown and not appropriately understood for so long, this research paper delves into the psychological repercussions of this dark period, exploring the mental health treatment within the camps and the enduring legacy on subsequent generations. Drawing from primary archival records, medical documents, oral histories, statistical analyses, and personal accounts, this research hopes to shed light on the emotional distress, institutionalizations, suicides, and the silent yet profound psychological scars left by this traumatic experience in order to better understand how mental illness was categorized and treated under the premise of incarceration as a way to encourage healing and ensure this never happens again.

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Katie Masano Hill is a fifth-generation (Gosei) descendant of individuals who were incarcerated in Japanese American concentration camps. Through her time as the research assistant for the social work department, Katie has worked on analyzing oral histories related to suicide and mental illness within the ten incarceration camps in order to bring awareness to this often overlooked trauma experienced during the World War 2 era. In addition, by continuing her education in a Master's of Museum Studies Program, Katie hopes to bring healing of historical injustice to other marginalized communities.

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