Description
Debbie Crawford Sturm, PhD, LPC presents this pre-recorded 90 minute webinar. The climate crisis is predicted to have a profound impact on the mental health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities with our most vulnerable neighbors at an elevated risk. This impact includes depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and pre-traumatic stress, fear, eco-grief, irritability, anger, violence, and loneliness, as well as disease spread, heatstroke, lung disease, heart disease, suicidal ideation, and premature death. The effects of climate change on community mental health and well-being are already occurring globally and locally. To understand this impact, it is also important to understand our extraordinary connection to the natural world, the empathy we feel toward her pain, and the harm our disconnect causes. Understanding both our connection to the natural world and the concern over the escalating climate crisis can shed light on the complexities of individual, family, and community wellness. As counselors, we have an opportunity to bring our understanding of trauma, vulnerability, and resilience to work with clients and to support climate resilience efforts in our communities. This presentation will provide an opportunity to examine the ways mental health, wellness, and climate change interact and how you can use your professional skills to mitigate the impact.
