ArticlePloS one2026
Beyond the emergency: Centering mental health in community disaster preparedness and recovery.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundExtreme weather events are increasing in frequency and severity, disproportionately affecting marginalized and under‑resourced communities. In Houston, Texas, where insurance coverage and mental health access remain limited, successive disasters compound existing inequities, leaving residents with unmet psychological needs. Yet little is known about how chronically impacted communities conceptualize their mental health experiences, barriers to accessing care, and priorities for support following repeated disaster events.
methodsWe conducted a qualitative study using town hall-style community conversations in three historically underserved Houston communities (Kashmere Gardens, Third Ward, Fifth Ward). A total of 145 residents participated between March and October 2024. Discussions followed a semi‑structured guide and were captured through trained note‑takers using a standardized template, supplemented by graphic recording. Reflexive thematic analysis, employing an inductive approach and an audit‑trailed consensus process, was used to identify themes. Researcher triangulation, persistent observation, and reflexivity were used to enhance trustworthiness.
resultsThree themes emerged. (1) Living in "survival mode": residents described cumulative emotional exhaustion driven by repeated disasters, including persistent anxiety, hypervigilance, grief, caregiving burdens, and limited capacity for self‑care. (2) Navigating stigma, mistrust, and limited access: participants highlighted cultural stigma, confusing and costly pathways to care, and mistrust stemming from unfulfilled institutional promises and inaccessible services. (3) Building a path forward: residents emphasized the need for mental health literacy, community‑embedded services, improved communication with city officials, and sustained funding for affordable, accessible, and culturally responsive mental health support.
conclusionsSuccessive disasters create chronic psychological strain in high‑vulnerability communities while simultaneously limiting access to care. Findings underscore the need for disaster mental health strategies that move beyond the acute response period to include community‑embedded supports, continuity of care, and investments in mental health literacy and affordability. Centering community voices is critical for developing equitable, sustainable, and culturally attuned disaster mental health systems.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.