Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences
Tohoku University

I am a mental health researcher and social work scholar. My research focuses on the psychosocial aspects of mental health among vulnerable groups—specifically minorities, refugees, and individuals living in or displaced from war and conflict zones. My main area of expertise is mental health literacy (MHL) and its relationship to health outcomes and help-seeking behaviors.

Through my work, I have shown that mental health outcomes are not determined solely by sociodemographic or clinical factors, but are deeply shaped by individuals’ knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions about mental health. I have also demonstrated that these beliefs are closely tied to cultural background, social positioning, and lived experience. Therefore, a universal model of MHL is often insufficient—especially for marginalized or conflict-affected populations.

My research has offered critical insights into how existing MHL frameworks, developed primarily in Western contexts, can overlook the needs of diverse communities. I advocate for a more inclusive and context-sensitive approach that takes into account both structural conditions and local understandings of mental well-being.

Building on this foundation, I am advancing a new conceptual framework for understanding MHL among minorities, refugees, and immigrants. By taking on this responsibility, I aim to address a major gap in the field and offer an approach that more accurately reflects the realities of diverse and underserved populations.