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Training clinicians for climate-informed mental healthcare

Nature Mental Health volume 3, pages 1472–1481 (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

The ongoing climate crisis contributes to a cascade of social stressors, physical threats and widespread mental health impacts. Mental health professionals across the globe are reporting an increasing prevalence of climate-change-related concerns from their patients, while simultaneously reporting uncertainty about how best to address these concerns. Given the escalating nature of climate change and, by extension, climate-related mental health challenges, the mental healthcare profession must adapt. We argue that an important first step is for mental health training programs to incorporate climate-aware competencies aimed at preparing trainees to work within the context of the climate crisis. We propose three specific competencies: (1) adapt and develop assessment and intervention strategies to be ‘climate-aware’; (2) include community adaptation and resilience as therapeutic goals with individuals, groups and organizations; and (3) engage in an expanded scope of professional responsibilities. Additionally, we provide preliminary suggestions for defining and incorporating these competencies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA

    Rachel E. Williamson & Jennifer S. Robohm

  2. Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Josef I. Ruzek

  3. Lyda Hill Institute of Human Resilience, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO, USA

    Josef I. Ruzek

  4. Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Josef I. Ruzek, Britt Wray & Debra L. Safer

  5. Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau

    Jiaqing O

  6. Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    Janne L. Punski-Hoogervorst

  7. Department of Social Work, Daegu University, Gyeongsan, South Korea

    Jinhee Hyun

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  1. Rachel E. Williamson
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Contributions

R.E.W., J.I.R., J.O., B.W., D.L.S., J.L.P.-H. and J.S.R. contributed to the conceptualization of the paper, writing the original draft, and ongoing review and editing of the subsequent drafts. J.H. provided feedback on the content of the paper.

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Correspondence to Rachel E. Williamson.

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Williamson, R.E., Ruzek, J.I., O, J. et al. Training clinicians for climate-informed mental healthcare. Nat. Mental Health 3, 1472–1481 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-025-00530-3

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