Climate Mental Health Network Aotearoa
Welcome to NZ's community for mental health and psychology in the climate crisis.
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We bring together people from across the professions, organisations and strands of mental health and psychology in Aotearoa to address the impacts of climate crisis.
Why? To support ourselves and our own climate, emotional and professional journeys To better understand how climate and environmental change is affecting people, now and as we head into a warming world To raise the priority of climate in decision-making, policy, ethics, training and strategy To honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and kaupapa Māori in our climate response. We are a Tangata Tiriti network. Update as at 10 October 2024:Well, we did it! We formed a climate mental health network for Aotearoa! We've had 4 national online hui attended by 56 people representing 35 organisations!! We have some awesome plans for next year, focusing on working in partnership with other groups. Plus there are another 100 people on our data base.
Plans for 2025: a) For climate mental health to be addressed at various conferences, including: the Climate Health & Sustainability Conference, and the Clinical Psychologists conference in Dunedin. b) To grow partnerships with other groups, esp. Ora Taiao, and Psychology for a Safe Climate (in Australia). c) To offer a series of online Forums on a range of topics related to climate psychology. Suggested areas so far include: - climate avoidance, denial & misinformation - youth - spirituality & faith - connecting with nature - space for those doing post-graduate research to present - wellbeing for those on the front line of climate action d) To offer open 'climate cafe' spaces for sharing emotions and building relationships. Which of these connects most strongly for you? What can you offer? I'd love to hear from you. |
Join the network! |
Events:
Silvia Purdie is leading a two-part training for Christian counsellors on the topic of 'Climate Distress: Vital skills for wellbeing in a warming world'. Free! Climate distress webinar
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Diversity Counselling (DCNZ) are launching an Eco Series, starting with a session on preparing for natural disasters.
[email protected] |
Climate CafésCheck out Climate Cafe as a model for supporting wellbeing: safe space for sharing emotions.
Dates for online Climate Cafes, and training for facilitators. Climate Cafés |
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Resources |
Please share links and resources that you find helpful!
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Climate Psychology Handbook
Free download from the Climate Psychology Alliance www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/images/files/handbookofclimatepsychology.pdf 'Climate Change Scenarios for the Health Sector' A report for government and the aged care sector, March 2024 www.xrb.govt.nz/dmsdocument/5107/ 'Becoming a Climate Aware Therapist' Article in Counselling Australia magazine magazine.theaca.net.au/articles/becoming-a-climate-aware-counsellor 'Intersections of Climate Psychology, Personal, Bicultural and Pastoral Practice', article by Silvia Purdie Intersections 'Climate Change and Mental Health': a webinar by Silvia Purdie for Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 www.place.net.nz/hauora.html Keith Tudor's books:
Key, D., & Tudor, K. (2023). Ecotherapy: A field guide. Karnac.. Neville, B., & Tudor, K. (2024). Eco-centred therapy: Revisioning person-centred psychology for a living world. Routledge. Trauma Aid offers EMDR therapy session for those impacted by climate change: www.traumaaid.org.nz/events Our research: www.whakaora.org/publications Free publications on Psychology.org: www.psychology.org.nz/public/climate-change eg Climate Action and Global Psychology Brian Dixon's work: www.psychology.org.nz/application/files/7416/9379/2458/Community_Engagement_on_Climate_Issues_in_Aotearoa_New_Zealand_-_B_Dixon__T_Morrissey.pdf NZ Psychological Society has a small Facebook group for sharing of psychological information regarding climate action.. www.facebook.com/groups/687688499905383 All are welcome to join Caring for Ourselves and Our Communities in Chaotic Times: Webinar by Training Resources for the Environmental Community (TREC) and the Good Grief Network
www.trec.org/webinars/caring-for-ourselves-and-our-communities-in-chaotic-times/ Helen Jeffery: 'Nature – Nurturing Health and Enhancing Sustainability Through Adventure Therapy Practices' (2022, SCOPE) Findings point to the importance of nature for mental health, e.g. "therapeutic strategies were easier to facilitate and had better outcomes when conducted in nature." "Connection with nature enhances health, enables therapy, and facilitates capacity to sustain the demands of the modern world." jeffery_nature___adventure_therapy.pdf Te Reo o te Taiao (Centre for Social Impact) Webinar by Arohanui West: tohu (signs) that we can see and observe from the natural world. We will link these observations back to mātauranga māori and discuss how climate change compromises these indigenous knowledge systems. www.centreforsocialimpact.org.nz/knowledge-base/te-reo-o-te-taiao-the-language-of-the-environment Resources for Children & Young people
Sparklers resources for Climate Hope for children. Such cool practical helpful material, for use in schools, homes, counselling and kids programmes, based on growing emotional intelligence in kids. An excellent resource from the NZAEE (NZ Assn of Environmental Educators): Te Tai Unuora, Climate Wellbeing Guide. Prepared specifically for Year 7-8 kids, it is also relevant across the board, with a strong foundation in Te Ao Māori and Pasifika perspectives. |
Climate Support Model (PSC):
Conference recording by Gabrielle Feather (20 minutes):
"Fostering hope in the face of climate change and eco-anxiety". 
Nature makes us healthier: BBC interview with Kathy Willis, 16/11/24
www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018964439/nature-makes-us-healthier-kathy-willis 
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Aotearoa organisations
Ora Taiao: Climate & Health Council
www.orataiao.org.nz
Climate change, health and general practice
Position statement by the Royal College of GPs
www.rnzcgp.org.nz/resources/our-voice/climate-change-health-and-general-practice-in-aotearoa-new-zealand-and-the-pacific-position-statement/
www.orataiao.org.nz
Climate change, health and general practice
Position statement by the Royal College of GPs
www.rnzcgp.org.nz/resources/our-voice/climate-change-health-and-general-practice-in-aotearoa-new-zealand-and-the-pacific-position-statement/
Te Tira Whakamātaki
an independent Māori not-for-profit working across Aotearoa and the globe to enact our right to protect the taiao, our environment.
www.ttw.nz/
an independent Māori not-for-profit working across Aotearoa and the globe to enact our right to protect the taiao, our environment.
www.ttw.nz/
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Global connections:
Climate Psychology Alliance www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/ Climate Mental Health Network www.climatementalhealth.net The Work that Reconnects workthatreconnects.org/ Climate and Mind (USA) www.climateandmind.org/ The Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance (Canada) mhcca.ca/ Climate Barometer: Analysis of what people think about climate change climatebarometer.org Bob Doppelt, writer bobdoppelt.com/ Good Grief Network Incl a programme of '10 Steps to Resilience & Empowerment in a Chaotic Climate' www.goodgriefnetwork.org/ Training Resources for the Environmental Community (TREC) www.trec.org/ |
in Australia:
Psychology for a Safe Climate https://www.psychologyforasafeclimate.org Climate Cafes: https://www.psychologyforasafeclimate.org/current-events Professional development: https://www.psychologyforasafeclimate.org/professional-development Climate Feelings Space https://www.climatefeelings.space/feel Climate and Health Alliance https://www.caha.org.au/ Doctors for the Environment https://www.dea.org.au/ Connecting Climate Minds: Regional research agenda for Oceania hub.connectingclimateminds.org/rc/oceania |