Project Summary
A Stakeholder Symposium sponsored by College of Saint Scholastica and the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership
In 2019, the Minnesota Department of Health, College of St. Scholastica, and Macalester College launched a survey of mental health professionals (MHPs) to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors related to climate change impacts on mental health (Hoppe et al., 2022). The survey was completed by more than 500 licensed MHPs currently practicing in Minnesota. Results from the survey indicate that a large majority of MHPs are seeing impacts on the mental health and well-being of their clients that are directly or indirectly related to climate change. Yet, respondents identify multiple barriers and challenges they face in addressing these impacts with clients. By far the most frequently identified barrier was a lack of professional resources and training for MHPs on climate change and mental health. MHPs also expressed a desire to connect with colleagues, both within the mental health profession and across other disciplines, to explore and implement innovative community-based strategies to reduce mental health impacts and foster a sense of “active hope” among clients (Hayes et al., 2018).
One of the core missions of the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership (MCAP) is to advance adaptation leadership, climate resilience actions and cross-disciplinary collaborations to ensure that Minnesota is making needed progress to prepare for our changing climate. Climate-related impacts on mental health have been widely identified as a major issue of concern within public health and other allied disciplines, such as natural resources and agriculture. Collaborating with survey authors and experts in the fields of public health and mental well-being from the College of Saint Scholastica, Macalester College, and the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), MCAP developed a day-long symposium centered on MHPs to address the needs and issues identified in the MHP survey.
The Climate & Community Mental Health symposium occurred virtually on April 1, 2022 with nearly 80 attendees, most were licensed MHPs or otherwise affiliated with the mental health profession (e.g., nonprofit advocate or policymaker). Additional attendees were employed in natural resources, environmental management, or outdoor recreation. These attendees articulated an interest in learning more about how to connect to the mental health field to advance nature-based solutions for individuals impacted by climate change.
Results from participant surveys, as well as the large attendance, demonstrate the success of the Symposium in achieving its core aims and connecting MHPs with resources and community partners to continue advancing solutions to reduce negative mental health impacts from climate change.