In recognition of Earth Month, the Dahdaleh Institute Seminar Series will present a virtual talk titled “Climate Distress: Helping Ourselves – Healing Our Planet” on April 18 from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The event will feature Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research Professor Emeritus Harvey Skinner and Community Fellow Susan Harris discussing the effect anxiety around the future of the planet has on mental and emotional well-being. A recent survey conducted by Lakehead University found that 75 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 16 and 25 say that climate change has an impact on their overall mental health. With a United Nations report issued in March 2023 suggesting that the window of opportunity may be closing to secure a more livable and sustainable future, anxiety in the future may only increase.
“Climate Distress: Helping Ourselves – Healing Our Planet” will provide an overview of the concepts and research behind climate distress, as well as practical tools for managing it. Skinner and Harris will share insights on how to foster self-care and resiliency in participants, while also discussing what can be done individually and collectively to help one’s mental health and the planet.
In addition to being a professor emeritus, Skinner is an internationally recognized educator and scholar who Stanford University ranked among the top two per cent of world scientists with respect to citations and impact metrics. Skinner also co-leads the Wellness and Self-Care Lab at the Dahdaleh Institute together with his fellow presenter, Harris.
Harris has worked around issues of mental health, abuse and trauma for over 40 years, and currently teaches weekly mindfulness and compassion sessions for staff, students and community members through the Stress Busting series. She, like Skinner, is increasingly focused on cultivating mindfulness and compassion in order to meet the growing distress caused by environment disruption and climate crisis.
Find more information and register for the event here.