Extreme weather has dominated headlines this year, from heat domes in Europe to dangerous summer temperatures in the United States and the formation of El Niño. While public health communicators keep communities informed about what to do during extreme weather, constant weather changes, and the politicized nature of climate change can take a toll on both the community and the communicators’ well-being.
Sarah Newman, Founder and Executive Director of Climate Mental Health Network, and Kate McLaughlin, Senior Communications Officer at Kresge Foundation, had a conversation on the emotional and mental health impacts of climate change, and how they can be addressed through community engagement, resilience-building programs, and communications.
What we learned
- The latest weather and climate patterns that threaten public health.
- Learn messages and exercises that help people identify strong emotions around climate change and support wellbeing.
Sarah Newman
Founder and Executive Director, Climate Mental Health Network
Kate McLaughlin
Senior Communications Officer, Kresge Foundation
Resources from Climate Mental Health Network
- Extreme Weather Tip Sheets and Resources
- Climate Emotions Wheel
- Parents Resources
- Climate Grief
- LA Fire Study
- Climate Emotions Middle School Toolkit
Other Resources and Research
- The U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index (Enviornmental Defense Fund)
- Climate emotions, thoughts, and plans among US adolescents and young adults: a cross-sectional descriptive survey and analysis by political party identification and self-reported exposure to severe weather events (The Lancet Planetary Health)
- 38% in U.S. Say Extreme Weather Damaged Their Community (Gallup)
- Resilience: A Practical Guide for Public Health Communicators (PHCC)
- Planetary Health Is Public Health (PHCC)
