The Power and Potential of Earth Week and Psychiatry

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EARTH & PSYCHIATRY

In the coming days, Psychiatric Times^TM will feature articles, video, and poetry related to its first-ever Earth & Psychiatry series. This year, Earth Week begins on April 16 and ends on Thursday, April 22, Earth Day.

Beyond climate psychiatry, which in its own way underscores the clear and present danger of instability in our environment, the Earth & Psychiatry series, shepherded by Series Editor H. Steven Moffic, MD, details the massive potential for psychiatry to mitigate harms done on society, culture, Planet Earth, and the people and other living creatures inhabiting the world.

The Earth Week line-up follows:

Relentless Sowers, by Frank Clark, MD

The poem opens with, “Yearning soil succors the seeds saturated with intergenerational wisdom . . .”

Respect Mother Earth as Ancient China Did, by Pu Cheng MD

Earth is a sacred concept in Chinese tradition. How can we continue respecting it today?

Psychiatrists on Turtle Island, by Andrew McLean, MD, MPH and Lavonne Fox, PhD, OTR/L

Themes of diving and returning anew are common in creation stories, as are themes of sacrifice and rebirth. These stories seem to touch something deep in the human psyche.

Our Trees of Life, by Barry Marcus

When things at home were volatile and school was demanding, the thought of entering The Woods seemed to settle his soul.

Dominos: Mental Health Impacts of Australia's Environmental Crises, by Alan Rosen, AO

Australia’s cascading environmental crises are all likely effects of climate change. How can psychiatrists and other stakeholders respond?

Climate Change and Hinduism, by Nyapati R. Rao, MD, MS, DLFAPA

Ancient religious texts from India explain the deep connections between human beings and their environment.

A Call to Change in the Relationship Between Psychiatry and the Earth, by H. Steven Moffic, MD

In this video, Dr Moffic raises the alarm for psychiatrists to be at the forefront of efforts to save the earth.

Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! It’s Earth Day, by H. Steven Moffic, MD

The Series Editor concludes the collection with thanks to contributors from around the world and shares his passion for the climate.