Summit County Health presents climate change and public health speaker series

Summit County Health's Climate Change Speaker Series continues September 19, 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Summit County Health

PARK CITY, Utah — Join the Summit County Health Department for the second event in its 2023 Speaker Series, focused on the role of public health in addressing climate change within the community.

This event will take place on Tuesday, September 19, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the National Ability Center’s “The Hub,” located at 1000 Ability Way in Park City.

The speaker series is dedicated to public health’s vital role in addressing climate change in our community. The speaker series is part of an initiative with the Summit Country Health Department, now in its first year.  In the upcoming session on September 19, speakers will explore the connection between the natural environment and our mental health and well-being.

“We hope to do a third session this year and continue with more in the future,” said Emily Quinton, sustainability program manager for Summit County. “The goal of the speaker series is to elevate public health as a critical component of the local climate change conversation. There is a lot of community dialogue, interest, and action by our local government about our environment, and we want to make the connection to public health as well. In 2022, we had a climate risk assessment done for Summit County; through that, we learned things like water scarcity, drought, and wildfires, and we wanted to share it with the community as well.”

Panelists include:

• Jeremy Bekker, PhD candidate, Clinical Psychology, Brigham Young University
• Kimberley Shoaf, Professor, Division of Public Health, University of Utah Health
• Nataunya Kay, Creative Arts Psychiatric Program Specialist at Huntsman Mental Health Institute

Key takeaways from the session include:

• Discover the ongoing and future impact of climate change on physical and mental health locally and nationwide.
• Gain insights into how existing health disparities and current conditions contribute to vulnerability in the face of climate change.
• Learn about valuable resources available to help cope with climate grief.

Mark your calendars, and register for this free and informative event.