While everyone is at some risk from the physical and mental health impacts of environmental hazards, public health and other research confirms that low-income communities and communities of color, continue to experience disproportionate exposure to pollution, heat islands contaminated sites, climate related natural disasters, and more. These hazards contribute to individual and community traumas and toxic stress.
The Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act is an effort to address the disparate adverse impact to mental health, caused by natural disasters. The bipartisan legislation would establish a $36 million pilot program for mental health care specifically for the communities most disproportionately effected by climate change related events. The American Public Health Association (APHA) is encouraging support of the legislation and provides opportunity to advocate with members of Congress.
Please contact Jennifer Beard, Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives, at beard.140@osu.edu for more information.
