Considering ecological determinants of youth mental health in the era of covid-19 and the anthropocene: A call to action from young public health professionals

In 2019, young Australians reported that two of their top concerns were 'climate change and the environment' and 'mental health'. The events of 2020/2021, such as the ongoing climate emergency, the Australian bushfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic, reflect the human-induced environ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health promotion journal of Australia 2022-04, Vol.33 (2), p.324-328
Main Authors: Oswald, Tassia K., Langmaid, Georgia R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Anthropocene
Australia - epidemiology
Climate change
Covid
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
ecological determinants of health
Ecological models
Ecological studies
Ecology
Forest & brush fires
Health education
Health Promotion
healthy environments
Humans
Life span
Medical personnel
Mental disorders
Mental Health
Mental health care
Mental health promotion
Ottawa Charter
Pandemics
Professionals
Public Health
Social aspects
social determinants
Social factors
Wildfires
Young adults
Youth
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Summary:In 2019, young Australians reported that two of their top concerns were 'climate change and the environment' and 'mental health'. The events of 2020/2021, such as the ongoing climate emergency, the Australian bushfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic, reflect the human-induced environmental issues young people are most worried about and have also exacerbated the mental health issues which they already reported to be at a crisis point back in 2019. Given experiences of mental illness in adolescence are associated with poorer mental health across the lifespan, it is becoming increasingly important to address ecological determinants of youth mental health in the Anthropocene. However, despite the inclusion of ecological determinants of health in seminal health promotion frameworks, health promotion has been described as 'ecologically blind', emphasising social determinants of health at the expense of ecological determinants of health. A socio-ecological model, which equally considers upstream social and ecological factors, should be applied to youth mental health issues. Using the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, we demonstrate how the ecological determinants of health may be incorporated into health promotion approaches targeting youth mental health. We also call for the health promotion sector to consider a number of actions to work towards achieving a transition to ecological determinants of health being at the forefront of health promotion activities. This commentary, written by young public health professionals, hopes to build on the momentum garnered by youth activists around the world and bring attention to the importance of ecological determinants of health for youth mental health promotion in the era of COVID-19 and the Anthropocene.
ISSN:1036-1073
2201-1617
DOI:10.1002/hpja.560