Epidemiology of Violence, Substance Use, and Mental Health Problems

Dear Colleagues,

Research on mental health, substance use, and violence continues to expand. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been extensive discussion about mental-health issues impacting all aspects of health and wellbeing. Despite the deluge of studies, much remains to be investigated regarding the changing trends and epidemiology of violence, substance use, and mental-health problems before and after the acute phase of the pandemic. Such knowledge will consider the changing social, political, cultural, economic, and demographic determinants of population mental health before and during the era of COVID-19. These insights are sorely needed to ensure safer societies and guide public health and clinical interventions on mental health and substance-use problems. Such guidance has the potential to inspire policy initiatives and acceleration of action to halt the rising rates of violence, suicide, addiction, and psychiatric illnesses. 

With this Special Issue, I hope to encourage discussion of the knowledge gaps, epidemiology, and determinants of addiction, violence, and mental illnesses specially before, during, and after the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. High-quality reviews and population-based studies with large samples, big datasets, and technological drivers will be given special consideration. Studies describing community-based interventions to improve safety and mental health are of particular interest.

Prof. Dr. Jagdish Khubchandani
Dr. Carrie Shaver
Prof. Dr. Elizabeth England-Kennedy
Guest Editors

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• drugs
• stress
• injury
• suicide
• homicide
• violence
• addiction
• psychiatry
• mental health