Recent societal and environmental events, such as a global pandemic, social injustice and inequity, political unrest, and natural disasters, have prompted an increased trauma response in health professions educators and health professionals, as well as the students and patients they serve. This has created opportunities to identify, create, or enhance health education initiatives targeting well-being and resilience in these populations. Increased access to well-developed and evidence-based initiatives is essential to support well-being and to develop and disseminate best practices. An individual's ability to self-assess and address their own mental and emotional wellness can directly impact their capacity to support others. Likewise, providing effective support requires an ability to recognize and empathize with struggles others are facing.
Historically there has been a shortage of mental healthcare professionals, resources to address needs, and awareness of the impact of emotional wellbeing on health in general. While mental health has received more attention over the past few years, access to quality resources has not kept up with demand. Recent events have exacerbated the need for a more diverse support system. This Research Topic will focus on strategies and best practices for preparing current and future healthcare providers, public health educators and advocates, and members of the community to face the challenges associated with societal and environmental trauma. Building and supporting resilience can address this critical societal need and positively impact clinical, economic, and humanistic outcomes of care.
All manuscript types will be considered (original research, review, brief research report, conceptual analysis, perspective, or curriculum, instruction, and pedagogy). Possible themes include impact of societal and environmental trauma, acute and long-term trauma support, wellbeing assessment tools, resiliency-building, self-care strategies, access to care/resources, promotion of available resources, awareness-raising initiatives, minimizing stigma, establishing and maintaining empathy, addressing mental healthcare needs in special populations, legislative efforts, professional development and continuing education, and curricular integration of resiliency and wellbeing. Target populations include current and future healthcare providers, public health educators and advocates, and members of the community.
Recent societal and environmental events, such as a global pandemic, social injustice and inequity, political unrest, and natural disasters, have prompted an increased trauma response in health professions educators and health professionals, as well as the students and patients they serve. This has created opportunities to identify, create, or enhance health education initiatives targeting well-being and resilience in these populations. Increased access to well-developed and evidence-based initiatives is essential to support well-being and to develop and disseminate best practices. An individual's ability to self-assess and address their own mental and emotional wellness can directly impact their capacity to support others. Likewise, providing effective support requires an ability to recognize and empathize with struggles others are facing.
Historically there has been a shortage of mental healthcare professionals, resources to address needs, and awareness of the impact of emotional wellbeing on health in general. While mental health has received more attention over the past few years, access to quality resources has not kept up with demand. Recent events have exacerbated the need for a more diverse support system. This Research Topic will focus on strategies and best practices for preparing current and future healthcare providers, public health educators and advocates, and members of the community to face the challenges associated with societal and environmental trauma. Building and supporting resilience can address this critical societal need and positively impact clinical, economic, and humanistic outcomes of care.
All manuscript types will be considered (original research, review, brief research report, conceptual analysis, perspective, or curriculum, instruction, and pedagogy). Possible themes include impact of societal and environmental trauma, acute and long-term trauma support, wellbeing assessment tools, resiliency-building, self-care strategies, access to care/resources, promotion of available resources, awareness-raising initiatives, minimizing stigma, establishing and maintaining empathy, addressing mental healthcare needs in special populations, legislative efforts, professional development and continuing education, and curricular integration of resiliency and wellbeing. Target populations include current and future healthcare providers, public health educators and advocates, and members of the community.