We'd appreciate your feedback. Send feedback Subscribe to our newsletters and alerts


Journal of Medical Sciences and Interdisciplinary Research

2023 Volume 3 Issue 1

Mental Health Professionals in the Era of Climate Change: Readiness, Lived Impacts, Motivation to Respond, and Obstacles to Meaningful Engagement


, , ,
  1. Department of Management, Université Paris Dauphine, Paris, France.
  2. Department of Management, School of Economics, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany.
Abstract

The body of research documenting the mental health consequences of climate change has expanded substantially in recent years, alongside increasing expectations for health professionals to play an active role in safeguarding population health. Despite this, psychologists’ awareness of climate-related health effects and their perceived responsibilities in climate change mitigation remain poorly understood. This study surveyed a sample of Australian psychologists (N = 59) to evaluate their readiness to recognise and manage climate-related mental health concerns, their exposure to climate–health impacts, their inclination to engage in climate action, and the obstacles limiting such engagement. Data were examined using descriptive statistics and associative analytical approaches. Findings indicate that participants generally lacked sufficient preparedness to identify or treat mental health conditions associated with climate change and demonstrated minimal involvement in mitigation activities. Insufficient knowledge regarding climate–health relationships and mitigation strategies, together with ethical uncertainties, emerged as the primary constraints on communication and advocacy efforts. Given the projected escalation of climate-related mental health burdens, these findings highlight an urgent need to strengthen the capacity of the psychological workforce through targeted professional education and by reframing climate change explicitly as a public health emergency.


How to cite this article
Vancouver
Dubois SA, Laurent CE, Kruger MP, Hoffmann JS. Mental Health Professionals in the Era of Climate Change: Readiness, Lived Impacts, Motivation to Respond, and Obstacles to Meaningful Engagement. J Med Sci Interdiscip Res. 2023;3(1):91-103. https://doi.org/10.51847/GEXy6pY5o3
APA
Dubois, S. A., Laurent, C. E., Kruger, M. P., & Hoffmann, J. S. (2023). Mental Health Professionals in the Era of Climate Change: Readiness, Lived Impacts, Motivation to Respond, and Obstacles to Meaningful Engagement. Journal of Medical Sciences and Interdisciplinary Research, 3(1), 91-103. https://doi.org/10.51847/GEXy6pY5o3

About SMER

Find out more