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, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity.
This presentation was recorded at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting 2023.
Learning Objectives
- Provide an overview of Existentialism and its relevance to Climate Change and Mental Health
- Provide data on the current state of climate change
- Define the relationship between climate change and mental health
Target Audience
Medical Students, Residents/Fellows, Psychiatrists
Estimated Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1.50 hours
Begin Date: June 1, 2024
End Date: June 1, 2027
How to Earn Credit
Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ or a certificate of participation may do so by 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 event 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.
Physicians
The APA designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™. 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.
Program Presenters
Program Planners
- Vishal Madaan, MD. Chief of Education and Deputy Medical Director, APA.
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