What can the mental health system do to limit its impact on climate change?
Mental health systems significantly add to climate change. In the United Kingdom, for example, the mental health system is estimated to release 1.47 million tons of carbon dioxide per year.40 These carbon emissions are mainly due to pharmaceutical waste, overprescribing of medications, staff and patient travel and mental health organizations’ use of energy, waste disposal and food options.41
There are several ways that mental health systems and organizations can reduce their impact on climate change. Some of these strategies include:
- using efficient care methods (e.g., patient-centred care can make treatments more focused; medications delivered via injection create less waste) 42
- finding low-carbon ways to deliver care (e.g., provide options for virtual care; invest in smart energy systems within organizations) 43
- developing, applying and evaluating models of care that are better for the environment (e.g., organization-wide green plans; quality improvement strategies to reduce carbon footprint) 44
- raising awareness about the mental health impacts of climate change and advocating for mental health systems to reduce their climate impact 45
- partnering across organizations and sectors and with people with lived experience of climate change to develop services that address climate change and mental health 46
- working with researchers to strengthen evidence on climate change–related mental health problems. 47
Mental health organizations and systems can also focus on prevention efforts that improve individual and community resilience in the face of climate change, such as addressing the social the determinants of health (e.g. housing, social isolation and employment); preparing mental health systems for the impact of climate change hazards (e.g., making sure the system can handle an increase in people with mental illness and respond to damaged infrastructure and supply chains); and making sure all health care responders receive mental health literacy training so they can support people affected by climate change hazards. 48