From climate grief to eco-anxiety, the psychological impacts of climate change are far-reaching and, at times, debilitating. Researchers, humanitarians, and those working on the ‘front lines’ report increased levels of psychological distress. Mental and emotional fatigue takes a personal toll, but furthermore obstructs the innovative climate solutions we so desperately need. This workshop will explore diverse experiences of climate-related distress and introduce practical techniques for mitigating negative mental health outcomes among researchers. Participants will come away with a greater understanding of compassion-based climate psychology and a variety of practices for self-regulation and emotional resilience. The curriculum will be particularly relevant for students working on issues of environment, renewable energy, natural disaster relief, and/or other forms of sustainable development. However, it is open to all students who have experienced or anticipate experiencing mental health challenges associated with climate change. The workshop will be highly interactive, with a mix of theory and applied techniques.
This workshop will take place over two days, 13 and 14 October 2022, 2:00–4:30pm both days (2.5 hours each day), on Zoom. Participants will be expected to engage in group discussion and mindfulness-based or perspective-taking exercises, and may want to prepare a quiet and comfortable space ahead of time, where they hopefully will not be disturbed.