Thread by @CroakeyNews

The first of today's concurrent sessions are about to kick off! To prepare for this afternoon's keynote by Tim Flannery on #ClimateChange and #MentalHealth, I'm going to catch up on and tweet out yesterday's symposium, which is now available on demand. #RANZCP2022

Follow @coopesdetat who is going to jump into the 'training during pandemic' session and also #RANZCP2022 for more Congress discussions!

Chaired by Dr Cybele Dey, presenters incl A/Prof Fiona Charlson, Tara Crandon, Georgia Langmaid & Charles Le Feuvre @DrCybeleDey #climateactionnow #forhealthssake #RANZCP2022

https://twitter.com/DrCybeleDey/status/1521807714237566977?s=20&t=qJCR9JEjxQlZUw3kAti_uQ

This session is focused on a review of the #climatechange research, from people working in the area & lived experience #RANZCP2022

A/Prof Charlson is up first, a NHMRC Research Fellow at Qld Centre of Mental Health Research #RANZCP2022

The links between mental health and climate change are complex. A system's approach/view is required to address - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

In planetary health, the mental health impacts from climate change are framed as primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary impacts are most direct impacts, incl heat, fire, flood, etc - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Secondary impacts are the less direct impacts on mental health and incl incl drought (which is long and chronic), sea-level rise, land degradation etc - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Tertiary (societal level) impacts are far more complex, but potentially the most significant in terms of mental health outcomes. Incl displacement & migration & loss of connection to land, reduced production of productivity - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Strain on community cohesion & social capital is one of the bigger tertiary impacts from climate change - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Latest IPCC report shows heat is a particular vulnerability for Australia - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Evidence has shown that the mental health impacts from heat are potentially more significant than from some of the other #climateemergencies. "Heat is more insidious" - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

ED presentations, self-harm and suicide increase during extreme hot days - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Spectrum of mental health impacts incl psychological distress, PTSD, depression, environmental & climate specific specific constructs, such as climate anxiety and eco-grief - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Not being researched currently, but there may be potential neurodevelopmental impacts from #climateemergencies - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Priority populations = young people, people with pre-existing mental illness, LMIC (livelihoods tied to environment), farmers & global Indigenous populations - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Research gaps are substantial. We know quite a lot about the impacts of climate change, as 80% of research explores the mental health impacts of climate change....- A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

... But very little research done to identify vulnerabilities and what policies should be designed to safeguard populations - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Some research in the space is being undertaken in Stanthorpe, a rural, predominantly ag-based region in QLD....- A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Some prelim findings indicate climate change impacts farming practices, land management, which then feeds into financial impacts, which results in poor social & emotional wellbeing outcomes - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Climate change also links to pressures to migrate, disaster preparedness and resilience. The point is, Charlson says, that it is hugely complex and all of these factors and systems weigh down on mental health outcomes - A/Prof Charlson #RANZCP2022

Session chair @DrCybeleDey reinforces the point about impact of #climatechange on Indigenous people. "The impacts of climate change on mental health are effecting those least responsible first and worst." #RANZCP2022

There are many First Nations people who have some amazing things to offer & wisdom & actual solutions to the problem. One of the journey's that the College is on is to listen & engage more in that area - @DrCybeleDey #RANZCP2022

Tara Crandon, PhD candidate, is the next speaker in this session and will discuss how children & adolescents are psychologically responding to climate change. #RANZCP2022

Climate anxiety might be the existential loss you feel when you think about how you or your children might be impacted by climate change - Crandon #RANZCP2022

...or a fleeting sense of panic you might feel when you realise you've left your reusable bag at home and have to use a plastic one - Crandon #RANZCP2022

"Climate anxiety is the initial alarm bell telling you that something needs to change" - Crandon #RANZCP2022

Experience of climate anxiety can be different in different people. It is a relatively unmapped concept. Crandon & colleagues have done some work in mapping the concept 👇 #RANZCP2022

A global systematic review of 10,000 participants from 10 countries (incl Australia, UK, Brazil, India & others) looked at how young people aged 16-25 years felt about climate change - Crandon #RANZCP2022

Key findings = 84% of young people feel moderately to extremely anxious about climate change, 75% think that the future is frightening, and 55% think "humanity is doomed" - Crandon #RANZCP2022

This is an understandable response from young people, who are more likely to experience climate anxiety - Crandon #RANZCP2022

Young people need to be supported with the incredible burden from #climatechange - Crandon #RANZCP2022

Crandon's research includes looking at what systemic factors influence young people to fall on more helpful end of, or more unhelpful end, of climate anxiety spectrum - Crandon #RANZCP2022

Young people's perceptions of the threat of #climatechange is shaped & influenced by many layers of systems and environments "they are nested within"- Crandon #RANZCP2022

More distal influences might be government or cultural influences on young people's anxiety, such as whether governments include young people in decision-making about climate change....- Crandon #RANZCP2022 #AusVotesHealth2022

If young people are being included or excluded from conversations and how governments respond and sufficiently address #climatechange will also influence young people's #climateanxiety - Crandon #RANZCP2022 #AusVotesHealth2022

Cultural influences might include when young people are spiritually or culturally connected to lands that they can see are changing, which might influence how anxious a young person feels about their future and culture - Crandon #RANZCP2022 #AusVotesHealth2022

Overarching all of the systems are climatic changes over time. - Crandon #RANZCP2022 #AusVotesHealth2022

Key message by Crandon - we need to continue to focus on how we can help young people on a one-on-one level engage with #climatechange and anxiety, in addition to implementing systemic strategies #RANZCP2022 @AusVotesHealth2022

Chloe Watfern is the next presenter in the session, who recounts her own personal experience of climate distress during the 2019 bushfires #RANZCP2022

While not in immediate danger, Watfern talks about the guilt & despair felt about the world in which future children would inherit #RANZCP2022

The present already felt apocalyptic, but aware it was going to get worse - Watfern #RANZCP2022 #ClimateEmergency

Attending protests & sending letters to politicians felt futile, certain that government would continue to fund fossil fuels - Watfern #RANZCP2022 #AusVotesHealth2022

Watfern talks about how the publication of the 6th IPCC report and conversations with her family and friends about her distress helped spur her into action #RANZCP2022

ipcc.ch/assessment-rep…

They came up with 'Hot People Make Cool Planets' t-shirts to start conversations and connections about #climateemergency with all profits going to @climatecouncil - Watfern #RANZCP2022
hotpeoplemakecoolplanets.org

Beyond t-shirts, Watfern is working out ways to "offer her strengths and skills to tend the world the best she can" #RANZCP2022

Shifting the focus to building hope, resilience and connection in the face of this normal but, as known from own experience, climate distress - Watfern #RANZCP2022

A powerful, heartfelt account by Watfern, describing feelings of fatigue, despair, anxiety & cognitive dissonance at the impacts of #climateemergency in Australia and the world & how turning that into hope has helped spur action #RANZCP2022

Dr Charles Le Feuvre is the final speaker in this session, talking about work in Psychology for a Safe Climate #RANZCP2022

Dr Feuvre discusses PSC model for patient care. Their primary belief is that climate distress is a healthy reaction to #climateemergency but can lead to debilitation if not addressed. #RANZCP2022
psychologyforasafeclimate.org

Le Feuvre calls into question the #biospsychosocial model of care, suggesting it should be expanded to the #biopsychosocial-ecological-planetary model #RANZCP2022

The hurt described in quote below is now happening with #climatedistress - Le Feuvre #RANZCP2022

PSC's signature group therapies includes art workshops to express and share emotions - Le Feuvre #RANZCP2022
psychologyforasafeclimate.org/workshops/

Children & young people are very concerned about climate change as demonstrated in the Lancet global survey discussed by Tara Crandon - Le Feuvre #RANZCP2022

thelancet.com/journals/lanpl…

Significant finding in The Lancet survey is the association between young people's climate anxiety and government inaction - Le Feuvre #RANZCP2022 #AusVotesHealth2022

It should be noted that action such as school strikes is good for mental health, Le Feuvre says #RANZCP2022

Echoing Stan Grant's words, Le Feuvre says "who is going to lead us" in #climateaction & also acknowledge & hold the distress evoked by the climate crisis - #RANZCP2022 #AusVotesHealth2022