Green Psychiatry

Several ongoing projects examine relationships between our changing climate and psychiatric outcomes, e.g. related to rising temperatures. We also collaborate with RIVM to examine concentrations of psychotropics in surface water in The Netherlands. Several of our editorials, papers and viewpoints outline the challenges ahead when it comes to mental health, climate change and loss of biodiversity.

Sustainable psychiatric care

We have several projects ongoing examining the interplay between psychiatry and topics like climate change and sustainability. One of our projects aims to decipher and reduce the concentrations of psychotropic medications in surface water. Yet other projects are more conceptual, aiming to better conceptualize the intricate bidirectional relationships between psychiatry and climate change, e.g. about what psychiatrists can do to mitigate climate change internationally and in The Netherlands. 

As the president of the Dutch National Society of Psychiatry Green Psychiatry committee and chair of the Green Team of the dept. of psychiatry at Amsterdam UMC, with my fellow members we strive to reduce the footprint of the Society, the conferences it holds, of psychiatrists in everyday practice, and of the dept. as a whole.