Reducing the Risks of Nuclear War

The current issue of JAMA Psychiatry, along with all other JAMA Network journals and many others worldwide, features an Editorial on the role of health care professionals in reducing the risks of nuclear war. Our world is being buffeted by multiple crises and existential threats —a pandemic, climate change, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical strife. For the first time in some decades, world leaders are seriously discussing the odds of nuclear war. The risks of nuclear conflict to public health and indeed life on our planet are obvious, and the Editorial argues that th e health care community must work to educate the public and reduce the odds of such conflict. Psychiatry as a field is increasingly joining these efforts, pointing out the catastrophic health consequences of nuclear war and advocating for deescalation and disarmament. Mental health professionals can play a greater role in educating policy makers and the public about the psychological consequences of nuclear war, drawing from past successes in health advocacy.
Source: JAMA Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research