Sustainable Mental Healthcare

Course Description 

Developed in collaboration with the Royal College of Psychiatry, and designed for staff at any level across mental health and social care this 3-part course will help you to understand why sustainability matters; how mental health and the environment are inextricably linked and how health services both contribute to and are vulnerable to climate change and the loss of nature. The interconnected processes of climate change and biodiversity collapse undermine mental health in a variety of ways, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups and widening social inequity. Awareness of the scale of the problem often evokes powerful feelings and thoughts, especially for children and young people.

Mental health services based on the principles of sustainable healthcare emphasize prevention and empowerment; deliver lean, person-centred care; and employ low-carbon, nature-based solutions where possible. 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, supports you to become a leader at any level, highlights the leadership role mental health professionals can play in providing healthcare for all within planetary boundaries and serves as a strong foundation for those who wish to develop their skills further in the technical (carbon footprinting and SusQI)  

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 healthcare systems.
2. Describe the contribution of the health sector to the global environmental crisis. 
3. Explain how sustainability can help to address existing challenges in the healthcare system.
4. Identify carbon hotspots and understand the basic principles of carbon footprinting.
5. Apply the principles of sustainability to mental health services.
6. Plan a sustainability project in your workplace.
   

Course Structure

Part I. Self-study online - Interactive online materials covering all course content, illustrated with case studies, presented in bite-sized modules.  The course is flexible to your interests and available time; a condensed version can be completed in under 2 hours using the module summary pages,  whilst the full course contains 8 hours of more in depth study. A discussion forum allows you to reflect on your learning and share thoughts and ideas with fellow learners.  A short video on the home page outlines how to navigate the learning platform and obtain your certificate of completion. The learning materials are available to you from the point of booking and for 6 months after your workshop date. You can see a table of contents for the self study materials here.

“The examples of projects that had worked well were inspirational and added another dimension to the educational material” 

Part 2. Live workshop online - The 4 hour virtual workshop consolidates your understanding of the course materials and then focuses on helping you develop ideas for a sustainability project in your setting;  translating your learning into action through small group discussions with CSH experts and colleagues from around the world using the range of resources and tools. A separate certificate of completion is provided for the workshop. 

“The most valuable aspects of the workshop? Networking with others, feeling more positive about what can be done, sharing of ideas and resources”

Part 3. Mentoring

After completing the self-study materials and online workshop you are invited to attend our online Sustainable Healthcare Cafés. The 2 hour cafes occur regularly throughout the year and  offer ongoing support for you to put your learning in to practice. They are a friendly, informal setting in which to:

• Get support for sustainability projects from peers and CSH staff
• Make connections with others bringing sustainability projects into their workplace

You are welcome to continue attending the cafes as many times as you wish. Upcoming dates are available here and will also be emailed out to you with your certificate of completion after the workshop. 

What future do we choose?

Human health is inextricably linked to the health of the earth’s natural systems, which create the air we breathe, the food we can grow, the proliferation of diseases and much more. This complex set of relationships is sometimes referred to as ‘planetary health’ and is increasingly recognized as a critical perspective in health improvement and protection.  Since 1980 global greenhouse gas emissions have doubled, and human activity has removed about half the wild birds, mammals, fish, invertebrates and insects on our planet. The health implications of this are clear, and terrifying, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic starkly demonstrates this. Individuals, organizations, and movements across the world have called a climate emergency to respond.  There is a huge amount to do and we are all needed. There are many important ways to make a difference and this course is a starting point for this exploration.

To kick off, we invite you to enjoy this evocative 2 minute video poem What Future Do We Choose?

                   

© 2024 Centre for Sustainable Healthcare