TY - JOUR
T1 - The Tōhoku Theater Project in Postdisaster Japan
T2 - An Exemplar for Addressing Community Mental Health in the Context of Disaster
AU - Pike, Kathleen M.
AU - Rebello, Tahilia J.
AU - Hanasaki, Setsu
AU - Narita-Ohtaki, Ryoko
AU - Kaufman, Phyllis
AU - Akiyama, Tsuyoshi
AU - Doerries, Bryan
AU - Yang, Lawrence H.
AU - Suzuki, Nao
AU - Magill, Elizabeth B.
AU - Yasumura, Seiji
PY - 2022/6/1
Y1 - 2022/6/1
N2 - The Tōhoku Theater Project was completed 2 years after the natural and nuclear disasters in Tōhoku, Japan, on March 11, 2011. It employed the dramatic arts to support the healing process, promote resilience, and increase dialogue and understanding about mental health among individuals who were directly affected by the disasters. The four performances fostered important discussions regarding the psychological impact of the Tōhoku disasters. Participants (N=143) found the theater performance effective at facilitating discussion, increasing empathy, and enhancing mental health knowledge, coping, and resilience. The performances provided critical information about access to services; many participants reported that they had not known where to seek help for mental health prior to their involvement with the Tōhoku Theater Project. Lessons learned may inform community-based strategies that promote mental health and healing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health disasters.
AB - The Tōhoku Theater Project was completed 2 years after the natural and nuclear disasters in Tōhoku, Japan, on March 11, 2011. It employed the dramatic arts to support the healing process, promote resilience, and increase dialogue and understanding about mental health among individuals who were directly affected by the disasters. The four performances fostered important discussions regarding the psychological impact of the Tōhoku disasters. Participants (N=143) found the theater performance effective at facilitating discussion, increasing empathy, and enhancing mental health knowledge, coping, and resilience. The performances provided critical information about access to services; many participants reported that they had not known where to seek help for mental health prior to their involvement with the Tōhoku Theater Project. Lessons learned may inform community-based strategies that promote mental health and healing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health disasters.
KW - Arts and mental health
KW - Coronavirus/COVID-19
KW - Postdisaster
KW - Psychiatry/general
KW - Public health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85131219309&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85131219309&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1176/appi.ps.202000520
DO - 10.1176/appi.ps.202000520
M3 - Article
C2 - 34666511
AN - SCOPUS:85131219309
SN - 1075-2730
VL - 73
SP - 712
EP - 715
JO - Hospital and Community Psychiatry
JF - Hospital and Community Psychiatry
IS - 6
ER -