Peace in mind: responding to mental ill health associated with the climate crisis through personally meaningful change.

Abstract

Aims: To explore the principles of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) framework in relation to climate change as a global threat to mental health. To introduce WRAP to public health practitioners involved in improving the mental health of diverse populations in response to climate change. To critically review how privileging the principles of WRAP can inform public and healthcare practitioner approaches to tackling rising distress resulting from climate change.

Methods: A selective, iterative, purposive review of theoretical and empirical studies, within a critical realist epistemology, was undertaken. Analysis was undertaken deductively.

Findings: The WRAP principles of personal responsibility, self-advocacy, hope, support, and education are considered in turn. While exploring the principles of WRAP, additional frameworks and concepts in mental health are explored in relation to climate change. Each of the principles explored has a link to the work already being undertaken informally by those involved in climate activism. Principles of recovery from distress draw our attention to 'active hope' and 'citizenship' through reconnection with people and planet, and sharing common experiences.

Conclusions: Experiences of those experiencing distress and those involved in climate activism can provide new ways to re-formulate theory and practice for public health initiatives. By meeting the concerns of citizens in relation to their health in the context of a changing climate, health practitioners have the opportunity to improve psychological and material circumstances by using accessible, personally meaningful, and community-connecting frameworks such as WRAP. By encouraging hope-full re-orientation and action, healthcare workers and the citizens they aim to serve can improve their mutual health and inform future individual or collective action in relation to climate change.