Psychiatrist leads climate-focused mental health initiatives

Psychiatrist Lise van Susteren pioneered the connection between climate change and mental health, creating professional networks and resources to address climate anxiety.

Nina Dietz reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

Lise van Susteren co-founded the Climate Psychiatry Alliance and Climate Psychology Alliance-North America to address the mental health impacts of climate change.
Her work includes organizing the first meetings on climate and mental health and co-authoring a global survey on youth climate distress.
Van Susteren continues to raise awareness and resources for mental health related to climate issues, including a free public repository called Ecopsychepedia.

Key quote:

“On a good day, I’m angry. Being angry is actually one of the healthiest emotions that you can have.”

— Lise van Susteren, psychiatrist and climate activist.

Why this matters:

Climate change impacts mental health, with increasing numbers of people experiencing anxiety and stress. Building awareness and resources for these issues is essential for better mental health care in a changing world.

insideclimatenews.org

Psychiatrist leads climate-focused mental health initiatives

Fiber optic cables reveal a big problem at the heart of farming

How the oil barons are seeking a get-out-of-jail-free card for climate change damages

Climate disasters hit homeowners through insurance bills, and states want Big Oil to pay

Maryland’s Supreme Court strikes down Baltimore’s climate lawsuit

California sues Trump over order to open coastal oil pipeline

"Every key indicator flashing red" warns UN's 2025 climate report

Jakarta rapidly sinks as climate change and overdevelopment collide

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.