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.

Related:

• Our View: It’s time to recognize, research, and remove environmental causes of mental illness
• LISTEN: Robbie Parks on climate justice and mental health
• Pollution’s mental toll: How air, water and climate pollution shape our mental health