�Joint Advocacy and Outreach Committee �of the �Climate Psychiatry Alliance �and � Climate Psychology Alliance - North America��Mental Health and Social Impacts of Climate Change��Presentation to the �District of Columbia Commission on Climate Change and Resiliency��December 14, 2023

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Impacts of climate change include:

• Post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, substance misuse, suicide
• Interpersonal conflict, family dysfunction, aggression, violence
• Reduced school and work performance
• Stress effects on physical health
• Adverse prenatal brain development
• Climate anxiety (esp. in youth)
• Migration

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🡪 Impacts vary across populations and settings.

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General principles

1. Mental health is a fundamental component of overall health.

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2. Psychological and social resilience is key to adaptation to climate change.

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• Adoption of a public health approach to building resilience will prevent or reduce negative impacts of climate change across the entire population.

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Recommendations

1. Assess mental health and social impacts across all segments of the District of Columbia population and project future trends and needs.

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• Build community resilience programs.

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• Train health care and social service providers.

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• Communicate with professionals and leaders in other fields and the public.

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• Cover mental health and social dimensions in K-12 environmental education.

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�Thank you!��For additional information, contact:�� Howard Kurtzman, Ph.D. (howard.kurtzman@gmail.com)� � or� � Liz McLaughlin, Ph.D. (lizmclphd@gmail.com)�

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