2023 Major Achievements

Our Voice in the Public Domain

Numerous interviews with journalists, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, PBS News Hour, many local news outlets, radio, podcast, and TV interviews and international news outlets
Estimated reach: several million viewers

Professional and General Education:

Presentations to numerous professional groups, academic institutions, webinars, courses. Estimated reach: ten thousand, (list upon request)
Presentations to public and lay audiences: Estimated reach: one thousand
Curriculum development for health professionals and psychiatrists across all levels, under development.
Providing expertise in social-emotional learning strategies for curriculum development for K-12 education
Teaching in courses for health professionals and psychiatric trainees at all levels.
Columns in trade journals: Psychiatric Times, Psychiatry News
Publication of peer reviewed articles and book chapters.
Publication of children’s book: Coco’s fire: Changing Climate Anxiety into Action, Wortzel & Champlin. https://www.amazon.com/Cocos-Fire-Changing-Climate-Anxiety/dp/0578989727
In progress: Production of Compendium of essential information/content of mental health aspects of climate change for distribution on an open-source platform (currently identified as Eco-Psychepedia)
Production of several books (both print and open access) currently in process on scope of mental health and climate health.

Policy Change

Testified as expert witness and participation with “Our Children’s Trust” representing young people in various legal suits against government entities for adverse impacts of climate change on youth mental health.
Educate and advocate for State government to include assessment of climate mental health vulnerabilities, needs and development of readiness and response in their State climate.
Collaborate on expanded voting projects to engage public and patients to vote and identifying voting as a climate action.
Provided expert educational advice to groups developing policies including to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), division of Health and Human Services: Submission of recommendations for integration of actions on climate change and mental health into their activities and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Provided testimony to various governmental agencies including Environmental Protection Agency on mental health impacts of air pollution and other climate change impacts and state legislative bills.

Patient Care:

Creation of patient education brochure/poster: “Surviving Heat Waves”
- Translation to Spanish and Chinese
- Distribution to clinics, health centers, community centers, professional associations
- Available: www.climatepsychiatry.org/toolkits;
Creation of patient and public toolkits on “Coping with Climate Distress” and “Dealing with Air-pollution from Wildfire Smoke,”
Expanded national directory of Climate Aware Therapists in collaboration with Climate Psychology Alliance.
Provided trainings for Climate Aware Therapists in collaboration with Climate Psychology Alliance-North America.
Collaboration with United Way 2-1-1 to respond to mental health concerns at local levels.
Developing program for Educational Support Experiences: group support for impacted groups of activists, scientists, journalists, etc. in collaboration with Climate Psychology Alliance.

American Psychiatric Association:

Instrumental in assisting APA with establishment of a permanent standing Committee on Climate Change and Mental Health
Chairpersonship and membership on the APA Committee on Climate Change and Mental Health
Instrumental in creation of Caucus on Climate Change and Mental Health
Presented at over a dozen APA meetings.
Co-authored the APA Position Paper on Climate Change and Mental Health, providing the roadmap for actions by APA.
Authored and promoted several successful Assembly Action Papers
- Divestment of APA funds from fossil fuel entities
- Carbon Neutrality of APA meetings (goal-50-100% Carbon neutrality by 2030)
Advocacy for climate leaders for APA elections/leadership

Early Career Psychiatrists:

Formation of Early Career Network; active group developing leadership
Stimulating variety monthly presentations/discussions open to all interested clinicians
Mentorship of medical students, residents and ECP

Social Media:

Expanding with growth in twitter followers and greater diversity of individuals and organizations (beyond medical/psychiatric) followers

Alliances:

Develop alliance/partner program (website: https://www.climatepsychiatry.org/allies-and-partners)
Collaborate with Climate Psychology Alliance, North America and Climate Psychology Alliance, UK on major projects
Leadership and significant input on mental health impacts to Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health
Expand international alliances
Support BIPOC programs

Community Projects:

Steering Committee leadership in major tree planting project honoring health care workers during COVID pandemic

Membership Growth:

Internal Operations of CPA