Climate change and mental health: postgraduate psychology student and program coordinator perspectives from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
Creators: name: Pitt, Clare
name: Norris, Kimberley
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Science Policy
subject: Mental Health

description: There is growing evidence that climate change can negatively impact people’s mental health. Therefore, it is important for psychologists to receive adequate training in this area. However, little is known about current levels of training, including the amount of climate change mental health education within postgraduate psychology programs in Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand. Two cross-sectional surveys regarding climate change and mental health were emailed to postgraduate psychology programs in Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand. The first invited participation from program coordinators (<i>n</i> = 17), the second students (<i>n</i> = 159). We conducted quantitative content analysis and thematic analysis of qualitative responses. Most participants believe this is an important topic of training for psychologists as climate change will impact the mental health of their clients. Further, results indicate minimal climate change mental health content in postgraduate psychology training programs in Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand. Integration of climate change mental health education into postgraduate psychology curriculum will work towards equipping the emerging mental health workforce to address this growing demand, which in turn can improve mental health outcomes in a changing climate. <b>What is already known about this topic:</b>Climate change negatively impacts mental health in several ways.These impacts will increase as climate change increases.Climate change mental health education is not currently an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council or New Zealand Psychologists Board Accreditation Committee requirement for postgraduate psychology programs. Climate change negatively impacts mental health in several ways. These impacts will increase as climate change increases. Climate change mental health education is not currently an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council or New Zealand Psychologists Board Accreditation Committee requirement for postgraduate psychology programs. <b>What this study adds:</b>This is the first study to investigate the perceptions of students and program coordinators regarding climate change mental health, and education on this topic within postgraduate psychology programs in Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand.We found that: Almost all participants believe that climate change will negatively impact the mental health of their clients and most participants believe climate change and mental health education ought to be incorporated into programs, however the majority indicated it is not presently included.It is important to prepare the emerging psychology workforce in mental health and climate change and integrating education into postgraduate psychology programs represents a step forward. This is the first study to investigate the perceptions of students and program coordinators regarding climate change mental health, and education on this topic within postgraduate psychology programs in Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand. We found that: Almost all participants believe that climate change will negatively impact the mental health of their clients and most participants believe climate change and mental health education ought to be incorporated into programs, however the majority indicated it is not presently included. It is important to prepare the emerging psychology workforce in mental health and climate change and integrating education into postgraduate psychology programs represents a step forward.