Overview
The Department of Mental Health was originally established in 1957 as the Department of Fourth Clinical Medical Nursing in the School of Health Care and Nursing. Following a reorganization in 1965, it was renamed the Department of Mental Health under the new School of Health Sciences. In 1992, the school was renamed the School of Health Science and Nursing, and the department became the Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing.
In 1996, with the transition to the chair system at the Graduate School of Medicine, two separate departments were created: the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Psychiatric Nursing. Since then, faculty, staff, and students from both departments have collaborated closely. In 2007, the Department of Mental Health joined the School of Public Health to pursue a broader perspective of “public mental health.”
The department has two core missions:
- To provide education and research training in mental health and psychiatric nursing for undergraduate and graduate students, cultivating future global leaders in the field.
- To conduct innovative research that advances knowledge and theory in mental health and psychiatric nursing.
Education
At the undergraduate level, the department offers lectures on mental health, psychiatric nursing, mental disorders, and clinical and health psychology. Students also gain practical exposure through field experiences in mental health care and psychiatric nursing settings.
At the graduate level, the Department of Mental Health offers specialized lectures on mental health epidemiology, implementation science, traumatic stress, perinatal mental health, and occupational mental health. The Department of Psychiatric Nursing provides lectures on psychiatric nursing and related practice.
The department also conducts a weekly seminar featuring graduate student presentations (research plans, progress reports, literature reviews) as well as invited lectures by guest speakers.
Research
The Department of Mental Health conducts research in the following areas:
- Mental health epidemiology: including the World Mental Health Survey (WMHS) in Japan.
- Traumatic stress and resilience: with a focus on evaluating and promoting trauma-informed care (TIC).
- Perinatal mental health: focusing on the prevention of perinatal depression.
- Occupational mental health: including the development of programs to prevent workplace depression.
- Additional topics include implementation science, disaster mental health, and global mental health, conducted in collaboration with domestic and international researchers.
- Our research is driven by a public mental health perspective, aiming to clarify the prevalence, risk factors, and protective factors of mental health problems across diverse populations. We seek not only to generate scientific evidence but also to translate findings into effective interventions and policies. Through close collaboration with communities, health professionals, and international partners, we strive to promote mental health, prevent mental illness, and support resilience in the face of adversity. Ultimately, our goal is to contribute to building a healthier and more inclusive society where mental well-being is recognized as a fundamental human right.
The Department of Psychiatric Nursing conducts research across a wide range of topics, including:
- Self-management and recovery in mental health,
- Community-based support systems,
- Peer support and stigma reduction,
- Social inclusion,
- Mental health among individuals with substance use disorders or physical illnesses,
- Mental health among healthcare workers,
- Trauma-informed care,
- Reducing the use of seclusion and restraint.
- A central theme of our research is “recovery”, a concept closely tied to quality of life among people with mental health challenges. Recovery is a dynamic process involving not only symptom reduction but also the restoration of personal meaning, goals, and valued life roles.
- Our research prioritizes co-production with individuals who have lived experience of mental health issues. By involving them in the design and conduct of research (patient and public involvement), we seek to promote a shared foundation where every voice is valued. Our ultimate aim is to advance mental health and welfare services, and to contribute to a society where all individuals feel respected and supported as they are.
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