ABSTRACT
The central elements of a public health approach to preventing and healing individual, community, and societal distresses and traumas are described in this chapter. It begins with the history that led to the “social-ecological” model that describes how individual, interpersonal, community, physical/built, economic, and ecological factors interact to influence mental wellness and resilience. The chapter then discusses what it means to be mentally well and resilient and what constitutes a mentally well and resilient community. A more thorough description of transformational resilience is then offered. Following this, the core elements of a public health approach are described, along with how it differs from a clinical treatment and direct human service approach. This leads to a discussion of the “protective” factors--or assets--that can enhance individual and community capacity for mental wellness and transformational resilience during the climate emergency, as well as the “risk” factors that can undermine those defenses. The chapter closes with a brief overview of the five foundational areas my research determined must be emphasized to foster and sustain universal capacity for mental wellness and transformation resilience during the long climate emergency.
