BACKGROUND: With the increasingly apparent effects of climate change in altering human habitation, overdue focus is now being placed on examining the resultant impact on mental health. The effects are especially pronounced in vulnerable populations, such as among young migrants, people of the Global South, minoritized young people and historically disadvantaged communities. OBJECTIVE: This comprehensive session aims to critically review the relationship between climate change and adverse mental health outcomes. We specifically examine the direct and indirect impact of climate change and the displacement of peoples, most notably young peoples, through catastrophic weather events. METHODS: We begin by one of our panelist’s personal accounts of how her home community of Maui was affected by climate change attributable fires, leaving an entire town decimated. She discusses the mental health toll of such an event and the familiar elements of ‘disaster psychiatry’ needed to address the community. We then review the intersection between climate change, displacement of peoples and the unique challenges and strengths young migrants face, and the opportunities for both intervention and resilience promotion. This includes an exploration of the direct effects of migration journeys, often marked by experiences of trauma and traumatic stressors, and a focus on these peri-migration stressors such as assault, trafficking and resource scarcity compounded by climate change associated challenges. We discuss the importance of screening for conditions like eco-anxiety and migration related traumas, noting possible cultural manifestations that may not be evident as a result of individual, familial or other cultural variations. We then also review the latest scientific findings on extreme weather, rapid fluctuations in temperature and the effects of pollution on neurobiology and its implications for adolescent mental health, especially when considered in interaction with traumatic migratory experiences. Furthermore, the session will highlight the disproportionate mental health risks faced by specific at-risk populations, such as the young, BIPOC, and inhabitants of the Global South. Finally, we discuss a recent legal claim brought by young people against the state of Montana emphasizing the right to health, including the state’s responsibility to address climate change related adverse health exposures and that included expert testimony from a psychiatrist. RESULTS and CONCLUSION
Format
Recorded webinar, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity.
This presentation was recorded at the 2024 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.
Learning Objectives
- Critically review the association between climate change, displacement of communities and individuals, and the resultant mental health impact.
- Identify the specific challenges and stressors faced by children at different developmental stages.
- Learn how to assess for, identify, diagnose and treat the effects of climate change related mental conditions.
- Consider the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on the brain, including mood, stress management and cognition.
- Outline strategies for psychiatrists’ participation in advocacy efforts, such as by providing expert testimony in legal cases on the mental health impact of climate change.
Target Audience
Medical Students, Residents/Fellows, Psychiatrists
Estimated Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1.5 hours
Begin Date: June 1, 2025
End Date: June 1, 2028
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
- Balkozar Adam, M.D.
- German Velez, M.D.
- Madison Williams, M.D.
- Anish R. Dube, M.D., MPH, MLS
Program Planners
- Vishal Madaan, MD. Chief of Education and Deputy Medical Director, APA.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
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Technical Requirements
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