Sustainable Mental Healthcare

The interconnected processes of climate change and biodiversity collapse undermine mental health in a variety of ways, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups and widening health inequalities. Awareness of the scale of the problem often evokes powerful feelings and thoughts, especially for children and young people.

Using real world case examples the course outlines what a sustainable approach to mental healthcare could look like; delivering high quality, affordable care and positive social impact without damaging the environment.

The course provides you with the basic tools to implement sustainability projects in your area. We also consider the leadership role healthcare staff (at any level) can play in providing healthcare for all within planetary boundaries. As healthcare professionals we cannot stand on the sidelines; we have a duty of care to our patients, communities, and the natural world which is our life support system. There are many important ways to make a difference and this course is a starting point.   

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course you will be able to:

1. Describe the risks the global environmental crisis presents to mental health and mental healthcare systems.
2. Describe the contribution of the health sector to the global environmental crisis. 
3. Identify carbon hotspots and understand the basic principles of carbon footprinting and sustainability in quality improvement.
4. Explain how to deliver mental healthcare sustainably and how this could help to address existing challenges in the healthcare system.
5. Apply the principles of sustainability to planning a sustainability project in your workplace. 

Course Structure

This course is delivered in three parts:

1. Self-study online
2. Live workshop online
3. Ongoing Mentoring