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

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

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