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2nd Edition: Mental Health and Disaster: Response, Recovery, and Preparedness...
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2nd Edition: Mental Health and Disaster: Response, Recovery, and Preparedness for the Future

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Behavioral and Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 8631

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Masatsugu Orui

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
2. Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai 981-1504, Miyagi, Japan
Interests: disaster mental health; mental health supports for disaster victims; disaster epidemiology; descriptive epidemiology of suicide after disasters; suicide prevention measures in disaster-affected areas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Takahashi Sho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Disaster and Community Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
2. Ibaraki Prefectural Medical Center of Psychiatry, Kasama 309-1717, Japan
Interests: disaster mental health; mental health supports for disaster victims; acute mental health needs; post‐traumatic stress disorder; support for disaster workers; disaster assistance team
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Given the success of the first edition of the Special Issue “Mental Health and Disaster: Response, Recovery, and Preparedness for the Future”, published in The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph/special_issues/Mental_Health_Disaster_Response_Recovery_Preparedness_Future), we wish to continue the exploration of this topic.

After any large-scale disaster (including infectious disasters, such as the COVID-19 outbreak), the mental health and psychological status of the evacuees and/or affected residents are often significantly affected.

The Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) occurred in March 2011. Subsequently, a massive tsunami and nuclear power plant accident forced the long-term evacuation of thousands of residents. The GEJE is but one of the large-scale disasters which have occurred intermittently worldwide. Other examples include earthquakes, hurricanes/typhoons, floods, and human-made disasters, and the COVID-19 outbreak. Hence, to prepare for upcoming disasters, the integration of global and national efforts to support disaster-related mental health activities and research is receiving more attention.

The editors of this Special Issue invite you to submit research on the risk and/or resilience factors among psychologically affected residents. Submissions regarding preparation for any potential major disasters, in terms of organized and informative disaster-related mental health practical activities (in particular, those which could be carried out during the hyper-acute and acute phases) are welcome, as are meta-analytical studies and systematic review articles. More specifically, we welcome studies which contribute to disaster-related mental health research with respect to response, recovery, and preparedness for upcoming disasters.

Dr. Masatsugu Orui
Dr. Takahashi Sho
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • disaster mental health
  • post-traumatic stress
  • psychosocial management after major disasters
  • resilience
  • post-traumatic growth
  • disaster epidemiology
  • support system for disaster workers
  • suicide prevention after major disasters

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 843 KiB  
Article
Negative Aspects of Self-Imposed Evacuation among Mothers of Small Children Following Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident
by Hitomi Matsunaga
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050592 - 4 May 2024
Viewed by 1593
Abstract
This study clarified the negative aspects of the self-imposed evacuation of mothers of small children seeking to avoid radiation exposure from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident on 11 March 2011. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 mothers, employing open-ended inquiries based [...] Read more.
This study clarified the negative aspects of the self-imposed evacuation of mothers of small children seeking to avoid radiation exposure from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident on 11 March 2011. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 mothers, employing open-ended inquiries based on an interview guide. Our analysis of their responses using the Ka-Wakita-Jiro (KJ) method categorized the results into eight distinct groups comprising 142 labels. These categories included continued anxiety about the health effects of radiation, differences in risk perception, changes in spousal relationships, the inability to make friends and find support, living as a single parent, financial concerns, the unfamiliar feel of the area to which they evacuated, and uncertainty about the future. Despite their hardships, the mothers continued their self-imposed evacuation to avoid radioactivity. Our findings underscore that their anxieties about radiation exposure persisted even after self-imposed evacuation, leading to deteriorated relationships with key individuals who would have been involved in raising their children. These results offer valuable insights into the challenges experienced by the indirect victims of the nuclear accident, such as the mothers of small children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Mental Health and Disaster: Response, Recovery, and Preparedness for the Future)
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14 pages, 361 KiB  
Article
Impact of Unexpected In-House Major COVID-19 Outbreaks on Depressive Symptoms among Healthcare Workers: A Retrospective Multi-Institutional Study
by Hideki Sato, Masaharu Maeda, Yui Takebayashi, Noriko Setou, Jiro Shimada and Yumiko Kanari
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4718; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064718 - 7 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2261
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly affected the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs). The authors have provided psychosocial support to HCWs working in typical hospitals and nursing homes in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, where major COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred since December 2020. [...] Read more.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly affected the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs). The authors have provided psychosocial support to HCWs working in typical hospitals and nursing homes in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, where major COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred since December 2020. This study retrospectively examines depressive symptoms before psychosocial interventions among HCWs working at typical hospitals and nursing homes experiencing in-house major COVID-19 outbreaks. We have offered psychosocial support in eight hospitals and nursing homes, obtaining data on the mental health status of 558 HCWs using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The study’s results indicate that 29.4% of HCWs have exhibited moderate or higher depressive symptoms, and 10.2% had suicidal ideation. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that being a nurse was associated with higher depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation compared to other HCWs. In addition, multiple logistic regression analysis of Polymerase Chain Reaction-positive HCWs showed that being a nurse and the number of COVID-19-related symptoms was associated with high depressive symptoms. These results suggest that HCWs in typical hospitals and nursing homes experiencing major COVID-19 outbreaks are more likely to exhibit severe depressive symptoms, which may worsen if infected with COVID-19. This study’s findings expand the current understanding of HCWs’ depressive symptoms and the importance of psychosocial support during unexpected major outbreaks in healthcare facilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Mental Health and Disaster: Response, Recovery, and Preparedness for the Future)
13 pages, 822 KiB  
Article
Worry about Radiation and Its Risk Factors Five to Ten Years after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster
by Maiko Fukasawa, Maki Umeda, Tsuyoshi Akiyama, Naoko Horikoshi, Seiji Yasumura, Hirooki Yabe, Yuriko Suzuki, Evelyn J. Bromet and Norito Kawakami
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16943; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416943 - 16 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1668
Abstract
Worry about radiation persists long after nuclear power plant accidents. Young age, low socioeconomic status, being married, and disaster-related experiences are known to be associated with greater worry about radiation. This study explored the duration of the effects of these risk factors on [...] Read more.
Worry about radiation persists long after nuclear power plant accidents. Young age, low socioeconomic status, being married, and disaster-related experiences are known to be associated with greater worry about radiation. This study explored the duration of the effects of these risk factors on worry about radiation after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, using the longitudinal data of randomly sampled non-evacuee community residents who were followed five to ten years after the accident. Questionnaire surveys were conducted five times with 1825 respondents (37.2% of the 4900 initial targets). We examined the interaction of time and risk factors of worry about radiation using a mixed model. Fear or anxiety immediately after the accident had effects on worry about radiation that continued even after 10 years, though it slightly attenuated with time. Family problems stemming from the disaster retained their effects. While direct damage and evacuation experience were significantly associated with worry about radiation in the early phase, their effects diminished and became non-significant during the study period. Being under the age of 65, having low educational attainment, and being married were significantly associated with worry about radiation, although the association with age weakened over time. Individuals who experience intense fear or anxiety post-nuclear power plant accidents or disaster-related family problems may need continuous monitoring for their worry about radiation even 10 years after such accidents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Mental Health and Disaster: Response, Recovery, and Preparedness for the Future)
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Review

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20 pages, 868 KiB  
Review
What Are the Best Practices for Nursing Care during an Earthquake? A Scoping Review
by Sherley Dorothie Pierre, Maíra Catharina Ramos and Helena Eri Shimizu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 535; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050535 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 2258
Abstract
Among natural disasters, earthquakes have a considerable impact and are among the ten deadliest, with an extreme impact on the healthcare sector. This study aimed to analyze the best practices in nursing care for earthquake victims. An in-depth analysis was carried out by [...] Read more.
Among natural disasters, earthquakes have a considerable impact and are among the ten deadliest, with an extreme impact on the healthcare sector. This study aimed to analyze the best practices in nursing care for earthquake victims. An in-depth analysis was carried out by using a scoping review, a method used in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR recommendations, to identify best nursing practice in these circumstances based on searches of eight databases: MEDLINE via PubMed; Cochrane Library; Embase; VHL; PDQ-Evidence; Scopus; ProQuest; and Google Scholar. Twenty-one studies were selected. The nursing practices identified were grouped into two distinct dimensions, each subdivided into four subcategories: (i) care practices: (a) immediate care, (b) intermediate care, (c) psychosocial care, and (d) ethical care; (ii) care management and coordination practices, which cover (a) care coordination, (b) victim care network organization, (c) teamwork, and (d) training. By analyzing these nursing practices during care and relief operations for earthquake victims, this study identified the various actions carried out, the nursing skills to be developed, and the reinforcement of these advanced practices through the systematization of nurses’ skills, in order to promote victims’ rehabilitation, minimize their suffering, and improve their quality of life during and after an earthquake. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Mental Health and Disaster: Response, Recovery, and Preparedness for the Future)
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