Apocalypse Now! Climate Change and its Impact on the Practice of Psychiatry-View Presentation

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Video Summary

The presentation, "Apocalypse Now: Climate Change and its Impact on the Practice of Psychiatry," explores the profound effects of climate change on mental health, highlighting the vital intersection of environmental issues and psychiatry. The session featured esteemed panelists, including Dr. Balthazar Adam, Dr. Germán Velez, Dr. Madison Williams, and Anish Dube, who discussed both the immediate and long-term psychological impacts of climate change. From natural disasters to chronic stressors, the panelists detailed how climate change exacerbates existing mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD and leads to increased emotional and cognitive burdens.<br /><br />Dr. Madison Williams shared a poignant personal account of the devastating wildfires in Maui, underlining the inescapable real-world impacts of environmental disasters on communities and individuals. The panel emphasized the role psychiatrists can play in addressing climate change-induced mental health concerns through clinical practice, education, advocacy, and policy engagement.<br /><br />Participants highlighted the need for improved building standards, increased political advocacy, and efforts in research and education to mitigate climate-related mental health challenges. The discussion also acknowledged the disparities in climate change's effects, disproportionately affecting marginalized and vulnerable populations, thereby adding a social justice dimension to the conversation. The session concluded with a call to action for individuals to make incremental changes in their personal and professional lives as a means of contributing to larger systemic changes.

Keywords

climate change

mental health

psychiatry

environmental issues

natural disasters

anxiety

depression

PTSD

wildfires

advocacy

social justice

marginalized populations

systemic changes