International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

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Dr. G. Camelia Adams

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Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8, Canada
Interests: attachment; spirituality; resilience; risk factors for mental illness; coping

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound psycho-social impact, leading to an increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide, with implications for the post-pandemic rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite significant efforts, biological approaches have not offered enough relief from illness, while health care systems have been strained in the attempt to find appropriate solutions. Yet, despite the stressful challenges that the pandemic has brought, there is a window of opportunity to discover new approaches that can enhance resilience and healthy coping in the face of adversity and decrease the development of anxiety, depressive disorders and suicidal behaviors. This Special Issue is dedicated to psychological initiatives that aim to identify and prevent various risk factors for the development of depression, anxiety and suicidal behaviors. These risk factors can refer to, but are not limited to, any of the following domains: cognitive, behavioral, emotional, psycho-social, attachment-related, religious/spiritual, personality, cultural influence and individual values. New research papers (quantitative or qualitative), reviews, reports, abstracts/proceeding papers, or theoretical papers (e.g., Essays, Hypotheses, Opinions, and Perspectives) will be given full consideration. Manuscripts offering original solutions with practical applications meant to improve coping and enhance resilience in the face of adversity will be favored.

For a full description of acceptable article types, please click below: https://www.mdpi.com/about/article_types.

Dr. G. Camelia Adams
Guest Editor

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

anxiety
depression
suicide
coping
resilience
attachment
loneliness
prevention
behavioral coping
cognitive coping
social coping
spiritual/religious coping
emotional intelligence
mindfulness
psychological interventions

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1513 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Doctors’ Professional and Personal Reflections: A Qualitative Exploration of Physicians’ Views and Coping during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by G. Camelia Adams, Monique Reboe-Benjamin, Mariam Alaverdashvili, Thuy Le and Stephen Adams

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(7), 5259; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20075259 - 24 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1494

Abstract

Numerous studies have examined the risks for anxiety and depression experienced by physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, qualitative studies investigating physicians’ views, and their discovered strengths, are lacking. Our research fills this gap by exploring professional and personal reflections developed by physicians from various specialties during the pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with physicians practicing in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, during November 2020–July 2021. Thematic analysis identified core themes and subthemes. Seventeen physicians, including nine males and eight females, from eleven specialties completed the interviews. The pandemic brought to the forefront life’s temporality and a new appreciation for life, work, and each other. Most physicians found strength in values, such as gratitude, solidarity, and faith in human potential, to anchor them professionally and personally. A new need for personal fulfilment and hybrid care emerged. Negative feelings of anger, fear, uncertainty, and frustration were due to overwhelming pressures, while feelings of injustice and betrayal were caused by human or system failures. The physicians’ appreciation for life and family and their faith in humanity and science were the primary coping strategies used to build adaptation and overcome negative emotions. These reflections are summarized, and implications for prevention and resilience are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Interventions to Prevent Anxiety and Depression)

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11 pages, 311 KiB

Open AccessEssay

Cultural Attunements and Ecological Wellbeing: Embodied Conditions for Mental Health Interventions

by Kara Miller

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(3), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030287 - 29 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1235

Abstract

A critical need for mental health interventions is clear in the modern era. Bodily attunements to place and space can help cultivate belongingness and heal the anxious modern body, as well as facilitate community solidarity to combat the loneliness and isolation that many are experiencing. Human systems and services have the potential to facilitate meaningful experiences for community members and to incite joyful, thoughtful, or motivating multisensory interactions. Humans’ surroundings have paramount effects on inhabitants and should offer opportunity and inspiration. This paper suggests that such inspiration be drawn from ecological knowledge that can garner healing and wellbeing and offers suggestions and recommendations for doing so. Humane designs are integrated with nature and include environmental access and information that encourages civic participation. This work uses theories and models in ecological community psychology and cultural ecology as well as anthropological approaches to human health to offer somatic principles for healthy community planning and development and for integrating such nature-based health principles into existing structures, including the built environment as well as education. Healing through nature is highlighted here as an approach for attuning to post-pandemic landscapes in order to move into the future in the most generative, sustainable, and supportive ways possible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Interventions to Prevent Anxiety and Depression)

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