Psychiatrist Lise van Susteren pioneered the connection between climate change and mental health, creating professional networks and resources to address climate anxiety.
Lise van Susteren co-founded the Climate Psychiatry Alliance and Climate Psychology Alliance-North America to address the mental health impacts of climate change.
Her work includes organizing the first meetings on climate and mental health and co-authoring a global survey on youth climate distress.
Van Susteren continues to raise awareness and resources for mental health related to climate issues, including a free public repository called Ecopsychepedia.
Key quote:
“On a good day, I’m angry. Being angry is actually one of the healthiest emotions that you can have.”
— Lise van Susteren, psychiatrist and climate activist.
Why this matters:
Climate change impacts mental health, with increasing numbers of people experiencing anxiety and stress. Building awareness and resources for these issues is essential for better mental health care in a changing world.
