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Summary of Scientific Day 2023

For many years, it has been an undeniable fact that natural disasters have a profound impact on the mental health of those exposed to them. The intensification of extreme weather events due to climate change only reinforces the urgency of paying greater attention to mental health. These disasters, capable of causing both tragic loss of life and massive material damage, are notable for their ability to shake entire communities, confronting them with a multitude of losses and the sudden disappearance of landmarks.

In the face of such events, whose impacts are felt at many different levels (economic, environmental, psychological, etc.), it is becoming imperative to step up care for disaster victims and, more broadly, to design a society that is more resilient in the face of risk. It is therefore imperative to stimulate research in the many disciplines already involved in this field.

Against this backdrop, the aim of this scientific event was to provide food for thought on psychotrauma and possible resilience in the face of the effects of the climate crisis. More specifically, the aim was to explore possible resilience processes in the face of natural and climatic disasters, using a multidisciplinary approach to understand their consequences at a global level.

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Plenary conferences

Climate change

Joël Guiot's speech began with a reminder of the current state of climate disruption: this is not an abstraction, but a tangible reality, marked by significant regional variations in its impacts. He stressed the urgency of limiting global warming, highlighting the devastating consequences of failure to do so. Alongside irreversible effects, such as warming oceans and melting ice caps, the climatologist focused on health impacts, including increased risks of respiratory diseases, allergies, tropical diseases, and impacts on mental health, particularly among the most vulnerable populations.

These concerns were illustrated by alarming data,
such as the dramatic increases in emergency admissions and deaths linked to extreme heat waves, and the rise in vector-borne diseases1. In conclusion, this presentation was an opportunity to highlight the need for rapid, concerted action to combat climate disruption, while adopting adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect both the environment and people's health.

- Cn2r

Joël Guiot

is a leading paleoclimatologist and head of research at CEREGE. Co-president of GREC-Sud and
MedECC, he is co-author of an IPCC special report on climate change.

Replay

Vulnerability and resilience of human behavior in disasters

Damienne Provitolo began her talk by outlining the challenges posed by climate change, distinguishing between sudden disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis, and more gradual threats such as sea-level rise and drought. In the face of such events, she stressed the crucial importance of adopting an integrated approach to increase the resilience of territories and populations, requiring coordinated risk prevention and management policies, strategic land-use planning, innovations in civil engineering, and a heightened awareness of risk culture.

The presentation then focused on a transdisciplinary research project aimed at better characterizing human behavior in response to disasters. This program, bringing together geographers, psychologists, mathematicians and computer scientists, explored individual and collective reactions to traumatic events, through analysis of visual content, interviews with key stakeholders, and real-life simulations.

In addition to the diversity of behaviors observed2 , this study highlighted the influence of various factors on reactions, such as the environment of the affected area, individual and collective attributes, the nature of the disaster, and pre-existing risk culture, thus offering valuable information for improving training and awareness strategies.

- Cn2r

Damienne Provitolo

is a geographer and CNRS research director, head of the "RISQUES" team at Géoazur, Université
Côte d'Azur, and has chaired Nice's Haut Conseil Local pour le Climat et la Biodiversité since 2023.

Replay

The economic and social impact of climate change

In his presentation, Olivier Chanel outlined the socio-economic impacts of climate change, with particular emphasis on the role of emotions in decision-making under uncertainty. Fear and other emotions can alter risk perception, particularly during natural disasters. In this context, research conducted by Olivier Chanel on reaction to flood risks reveals that lived experience and emotions play a crucial role in protection decisions.

As a result, people who have already experienced flooding tend to underestimate future risks, and their previous emotions influence their willingness to invest in protective measures. These observations underline the importance of taking these factors into account in risk management.

- Cn2r

Olivier Chanel

is CNRS research director at AMSE, specializing in environmental risk economics.

Replay

Eco-anxiety

Antoine Pelissolo tells us that ecoanxiety, characterized by a spectrum of varied emotions such as fear, sadness and anger, manifests itself through a diversity of symptoms including anxiety attacks, impaired concentration and sleep disturbances. This phenomenon, exacerbated by recent climate and health crises, is particularly prevalent among young people, revealing a marked generational sensitivity to environmental challenges.

Although mostly non-pathological, ecoanxiety requires attention and a listening ear from healthcare professionals. In this context, several points of attention were raised, such as legitimizing ecological concerns, managing stress and encouraging commitment to positive environmental actions. Involvement in ecological initiatives was also highlighted by the speaker, not only as a response to the need for action, but also as a means of improving the psychological well-being of those affected. Prof. Pelissolo also stressed the importance of not over-medicalizing these adaptive fears, and evoked the potential of ecoanxiety as a lever to encourage collective and individual action essential to preparing a sustainable future.

- Cn2r

Antoine Pelissolo

is PU-PH, head of the psychiatry department at CHU Henri-Mondor, specializing in anxiety, phobic and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Replay

Social determinants and psychic configurations in the context of climate change

Jean-Marc Goudet presented his study on the impact of climate change on mental health, with a particular focus on gender differences. To study in depth the impact of climate change on the mental health of men and women living in two vulnerable communities in Bangladesh, Jean-Marc Goudet drew on quantitative and qualitative methods such as participant observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Goudet's research revealed that, while climate change affects the mental health of all, women are more affected because of their socially-assigned roles and responsibilities.

They face increased challenges such as extra workloads, water and food shortages, and social insecurity due to the migration of men to cities. The men, for their part, are mainly affected in terms of their livelihoods and economic security. Thus, Goudet has underlined the urgency of adopting a gender-sensitive approach in the design of policies and interventions targeting the impacts of climate change on mental health. Her contribution offers essential perspectives for future research and highlights the importance of integrating the gender dimension into the analysis of the consequences of climate change on mental health.

- Cn2r

Jean-Marc Goudet

is a physician and sociologist, winner of the 2021 Cn2r call for projects. His research focuses on
the impact of climate change on mental health.

Replay

Round table

Round table on natural disaster management at the Cn2r Scientific Day on 09/11/2023 ©Sebastien Delarque
From left to right: Marcellin Nadeau, Valérie Guyon, Jérôme Bertin, Dr Nathalie Prieto, Dr Flavie Derynck, and Jean Stellittano

Discussants

→ Dr Flavie Derynck: psychiatrist at the CRP d'Arles and coordinator of the CUMP south zone
→ Marcellin Nadeau: MP for Martinique and former mayor of Le Prêcheur
→ Valérie Guyon: referent psychologist for CUMP-SAMU 13 and coordinator for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region
→ Jean Stellittano: secretary and director-general of Secours populaire des Alpes-Maritimes

Moderators

→ Dr Nathalie Prieto: national CUMP referent and psychiatrist at Hospices Civils de Lyon
→ Jérôme Bertin: General Manager of the France Victimes Federation

Replay

Objectives

In order to encourage dialogue between the various players involved in natural disaster management, the discussions focused on the organization and specific features of disaster management following natural disasters, the challenges of post-disaster management, and in-depth reflection on prevention measures, both individual and collective, in a context where the frequency of natural disasters is unlikely to decrease.

Summary

The round table was introduced by a presentation from Dr. Flavie Derynck, who detailed the complex organization of relief efforts in response to exceptional health situations3. Dr. Derynck focused on the interaction between the ORSEC and ORSAN plans, illustrating how these plans coordinate safety and health responses, from national to local levels.

This introduction was rounded off by comments from Valérie Guyon of the CUMP, who underlined the importance of medical-psychological care in the field, particularly in identifying and supporting people in a state of stress. Jean Stelittano complemented these remarks by highlighting the role played by associations such as secours populaire in providing material support and combating the isolation of disaster victims, thus underlining the social and material dimension of disaster response.

The debate then turned to the challenges of post-disaster management. Marcellin Nadeau offered a critical reflection on the conception of risk, questioning the tendency to consider disasters solely as accidents, and highlighting the lack of post-disaster planning. He illustrated his remarks with the example of the Soufrière eruption (1977) in Martinique, underlining the need to integrate risk management at the very heart of economic and social development and regional planning strategies. This perspective was reinforced by Flavie Derynck, psychiatrist and CUMP coordinator, who addressed the issue of rehousing and the importance of working with social organizations to ensure comprehensive care.

Finally, the issue of prevention and awareness was addressed. Valérie Guyon spoke of the evolution of psychotrauma training, including the importance of intervention in schools and collaboration with parents of traumatized children. Marcellin Nadeau took the opportunity to reiterate the importance of community autonomy and resilience, particularly in disaster preparedness and rapid response. Secours Populaire highlighted its growing role in preventing the impact on mental health, as well as the need to extend disaster management knowledge across borders.

In conclusion, this round table highlighted the complexity and necessity of a global, multidimensional approach to natural disaster management. It underlined the importance of coordinating emergency response, medical, psychological and social care, and of integrating resilience at the heart of prevention in long-term planning.

Research interview

In order to put the round table discussions into perspective with scientific research, Cn2r spoke to the French Red Cross Foundation.

Vincent Leger

holds a PhD in Anthropology from University College London. He is currently in charge of research at the French Red Cross Foundation, with particular responsibility for monitoring research supported by the foundation and its partners.

Additional resources

The resources in this file are available in the pdf document at the end of the page.
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