Description 

The mental health consequences of events linked to a changing global climate are myriad and can be devastating. According to FEMA, many communities worldwide are already experiencing the devastating effects of climate change in events like intensified wildfires, droughts and extreme heat, flooding, and coastal erosion, among other natural disasters. It goes without saying that the earth is going through a seismic change that threatens the very existence of humankind. As an Existentialist, I perceive the current climate crisis an a fundamentally existential issue and makes all of us grapple with the fundamental questions of death, life and quality of life. The impact of climate change is often devastating on many levels. People who are victims of a climate disaster often must deal with have the most immediate effects on mental health in the form of the trauma and shock due to personal injuries, loss of a loved one, damage to or loss of personal property or even the loss of livelihood. Further, the terror, anger, shock and other intense negative emotions that can dominate people’s initial response to a climate disaster may eventually subside, but to only be replaced by some form of traumatic stress disorder. The trauma and losses from a disaster, such as losing a home or job and being disconnected from neighborhood and community, can contribute to depression and anxiety. This presentation is designed to discuss climate change as a fundamentally existential issue and to explore the mental health impact it will have on the world and particularly vulnerable populations.  How do therapists help clients that are victims of natural disasters brought on by climate change when they have lost everything including their homes, means to earn a living and possibly loved ones? How can therapists help clients find hope, resilience and strength when they are faced with the loss of a loved one, their employment, their community, and perhaps most significant, their sense of identity? What should the mental field be doing now to advocate for preventive measures to mitigate the overwhelming impacts of client change?  These are the questions that will focus the discussion of this presentation and help explain the relationship between existentialism, climate change and what mental health needs to look like as a result. 

Format 

Recorded webinar.

This content was recorded during the APA 2023 Annual Meeting.

Learning Objectives 

1. Provide an overview of Existentialism and its relevance to climate change and mental health.
2. Provide data on the current state of climate change.
3. Define the relationship between climate change and mental health.
4. How climate change will disproportionately impact minority populations.
5. Implications for mental health counseling.

Target Audience 

Residents/Fellows, Psychiatrists, Psychologists

Estimate Time to Complete 

Estimated Duration: 1.75 hours
Program Start Date: May 1, 2025
Program End Date: May 1, 2028

How to Earn Credit 

Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ may do so after completing all sections of the course including the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the completion date and hours earned. 

Continuing Education Credit  

In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

The APA designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Faculty and Planner Disclosures 

The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. 

Instructors 

• Andre Marseille, MD

Planners  

• Vishal Madaan, MD, Chief of Education and Deputy Medical Director at the American Psychiatric Association.

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities 

The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. Please contact the American Psychiatric Association at 202-559-3900, if you require assistance seven (7) business days prior to the start of a live webinar. 

Technical Requirements 

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following: 

• The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari 
• Internet Explorer 11+ 

This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player. 

Optimal System Configuration: 

• Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version) 
• Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version) 
• Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content 
• Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content 

For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact learningcenter@psych.org for technical assistance