Climate change in Alaska: Social workers’ attitudes, beliefs, and experiences

Abstract

The average temperature in Alaska and the North American Arctic has risen at twice the rate of the global average due to climate change, causing changes to the natural environment that affect the physical, social, and emotional well‐being of people and communities. Social workers must be prepared to respond. Using a non‐probability, convenience sample, this study surveyed 159 social workers in Alaska to assess their attitudes and their perceptions of the effects of climate change on their clients and constituents. Results indicate that social workers in Alaska believe that climate change is happening, that human activities are responsible, and that it is a large threat to people in Alaska. Over 75% believe that climate change is dangerous for their clients now or will be dangerous in 10 years. Social workers report that in the past year their clients or constituents have experienced multiple climate change‐related problems with community infrastructure, health, and mental health.

Climate change and Indigenous mental health in the Circumpolar North: A systematic review to inform clinical practice

“…Most articles included qualitative data ( n = 25). Five also presented quantitative data (reported narratively) ( Allen, 2020 ; Cunsolo Willox et al, 2012 ; Gilbert et al, 2021; Ostapchuk et al, 2012 ; Proverbs et al, 2020). Ten geographical regions were represented: most studies focused on Inuit communities of Nunatsiavut ( n = 12), Nunavut ( n = 6), Nunavik ( n = 1), and NunatuKavut ( n = 1), while others focused on the Dene, Cree, and Gwich’in in the Northwest Territories ( n = 2) and in Yukon and Northern Alberta ( n = 1), the Saami in Sweden ( n = 1), the Inupiat and Aleut in Alaska ( n = 5), and diverse Indigenous Peoples in the Sakha Republic in Russia ( n = 1).…”

“…Behaviors such as violence and gambling were reported by some participants as possible consequences of, and responses to, environmental disruptions (Bunce et al, 2016;Cunsolo Willox et al, 2013a). Some social workers in Alaska similarly noted, in local Indigenous communities, anxious reactions, cultural loss, suicidal ideation, and increased risk for alcohol and drug misuse that they linked to climate change (Allen, 2020).…”