What's Climate Got To Do With It? How Climate Change Affects Mental Health & How You Can Help-Presentation Slides

Presentation Slides

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The document discusses the intersection between climate change and mental health, emphasizing the impact of climate change on psychiatric patients. It highlights the challenges posed by rising temperatures, severe weather events, decreased water quality, spread of illnesses, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Vulnerable populations like youth and psychiatric patients are disproportionately affected. The text delves into the direct and indirect effects of climate change on mental health, including thermoregulation difficulties, neurotransmitter involvement, and psychological sequelae like trauma and existential distress.<br /><br />The paper also touches on the importance of addressing climate distress in therapy, supporting youth through climate anxiety, and fostering coping mechanisms. It outlines actions psychiatrists can take towards decarbonization, such as reducing flying to residency interviews, implementing telepsychiatry, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing recycling programs. The text also discusses the controversial aspect of carbon offsets and the importance of reducing waste in healthcare settings.<br /><br />Efforts towards a greener future include coordinating annual conferences more sustainably, implementing embedded carbon offsets, reducing flying, adopting telepsychiatry, and enhancing recycling programs. References to specific studies and reports underscore the urgency for the healthcare sector to be more environmentally conscious and reduce its carbon footprint to address the mental health impacts of climate change effectively. The document concludes with a Q&A session, thanking the audience for their attention.

Keywords

climate change

mental health

psychiatric patients

rising temperatures

severe weather events

food insecurity

vulnerable populations

thermoregulation difficulties

climate distress

decarbonization