The Climate Question How can we build mental resilience to climate change?
Feb 24, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Jyoti Mishra, an Associate Professor at UC focusing on climate and mental health, teams up with John Jamir Benzon R. Aruta, a specialist in environmental psychology from the Philippines. They dive into how communities can foster mental resilience against climate-related trauma, sharing inspiring stories from Northern California's wildfires and the Philippines' Manobo tribe. Key strategies include cultivating social support, integrating indigenous wisdom, and emphasizing collective healing to navigate the emotional toll of climate change.
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Tubbs Fire Escape
- Brad Sherwood's family escaped the 2017 Tubbs Fire, California's most destructive wildfire at the time.
- They awoke to the smell of smoke and falling ash, witnessing fire tornadoes as they fled.
Climate Change and Wildfires
- Climate change intensifies fire weather conditions, increasing the likelihood of wildfires.
- Scientists attribute a 35% increased likelihood of recent LA fires to human actions.
Climate Trauma Symptoms
- Climate disasters cause widespread, long-term distress, termed "climate trauma".
- Symptoms include mood disturbances (depression, anger, hyperactivity) and cognitive impairments (distractibility, poor decision-making).