Toward Solutions: An Interdisciplinary Collaboration Addressing the Intersection of Climate Change and Mental Health

Overview: Climate change touches both personal and planetary health. Mental health professionals have been increasingly called upon to address the impacts of climate change without adequate tools. Learn how an interdisciplinary research collaborative is removing silos and working toward micro, mezzo, and macro solutions.Proposal text: Mental health professionals (MHPs) have a pivotal role in advancing our understanding and mitigation of the negative impacts of climate change on mental health. However, while awareness of the link between climate change and mental health steadily grows, it is still a relatively new issue, even to MHPs. It is unknown to what extent the intersection of climate change and mental health is included in MHP training programs and university curriculum, or what resources MHPs need to address climate-related impacts with their clients. Since social work hosts the largest percentage of mental health providers in the United States (Heisler, 2018), it is important for the profession to be at the forefront of research and practice to address climate change and its planetary impacts at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

This presentation will describe a large survey that explored how MHPs are encountering climate change in their practice, how prepared they feel to work with clients on climate-related mental health issues, and what resources they need to be effective. The study used a Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey design to collect both quantitative and qualitative information from MHPs currently licensed and practicing in the state of Minnesota. Results were then made actionable through a day-long symposium convening MHPs from across the state to: 1) discuss key points from the survey, 2) learn from topic experts, particularly those working with priority populations, such as tribal members, farmers, and youth, and 3) engage in focus groups to capture MHP feedback on gaps and needs regarding professionals resources and what it means to help advance mental and emotional resiliency in their clients and their communities. The presentation will highlight results from both the KAP study and the symposium, next steps to advance MHP practice in the climate and health space, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing personal and planetary healing.