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Keeping Sane in a Changing Climate: Assessing Psychologists’ Preparedness, Exposure to Climate-Health Impacts, Willingness to Act on Climate Change, and Barriers to Effective Action

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  • Gabriela Stilita

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
    Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia
    Psychology Department, The Prince Charles Hospital–Queensland Health, Chermside, QLD 4032, Australia)

  • Fiona Charlson

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
    Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia)

Abstract

Evidence of the impact of climate change on mental health is growing rapidly, and healthcare professionals are being called to be active participants in protecting the population’s health. Yet, little is known about psychologists’ understanding of climate-health impacts and their role in mitigation actions. We surveyed Australian psychologists ( N = 59) to examine preparedness in identifying and managing the impact of climate change on mental health, exposure to climate-health impacts, willingness to act, and barriers to acting on climate change. Data was analysed through descriptive and associative methods. We found that participants are not prepared to identify and manage mental health presentations related to climate change, and they are not engaged in climate change mitigation. We identified that a lack of knowledge of climate-health impacts and tackling and mitigation strategies, in addition to ethical concerns, were the main barriers to engagement with communication and advocacy. With the impacts of climate change on mental health expected to soar, there is a clear and urgent need to prepare the psychological workforce to address this public health issue by establishing professional education programs and reframing climate change as a health crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriela Stilita & Fiona Charlson, 2024. "Keeping Sane in a Changing Climate: Assessing Psychologists’ Preparedness, Exposure to Climate-Health Impacts, Willingness to Act on Climate Change, and Barriers to Effective Action," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:2:p:218-:d:1338213
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Julien Dupraz & Bernard Burnand, 2021. "Role of Health Professionals Regarding the Impact of Climate Change on Health—An Exploratory Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Helen L. Berry & Thomas D. Waite & Keith B. G. Dear & Anthony G. Capon & Virginia Murray, 2018. "The case for systems thinking about climate change and mental health," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 282-290, April.
    3. Tara J. Crandon & James G. Scott & Fiona J. Charlson & Hannah J. Thomas, 2022. "A social–ecological perspective on climate anxiety in children and adolescents," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(2), pages 123-131, February.
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