For many in Northern New England, the facts of climate change become reality during these winter months. We notice our ski areas opening later, winter tourism decreasing, and the sap running sooner. There’s grey-green grass outside our windows where we’d hope to see sparkling white this time of the year. While this unseasonably warm winter is just a single point of data in the upward trend of global temperature, it serves as a sobering prelude for what we can expect in the future. With the levels of greenhouse gases currently in our atmosphere, we’ve already bought decades worth of climate change.

The argument that our climate is not changing has become rare one, with over 200 nations committing to action and 99.9% of climate scientists agreeing that warming trends are caused by human activity. Here in the Upper Valley, we already have good data to show that temperatures, precipitation and storm events are all increasing, and that revenues from winter industries have fallen. At this point, the question is no longer if the climate is changing, but what to do about it.

There are two main approaches to addressing climate change – mitigation and adaptation – and we believe that successful efforts to better our future must incorporate both strategies. Simply stated, climate change mitigation includes actions that slow the rate of climate change. Because we know that greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, in our atmosphere are primary causes of global warming, solutions that reduce emissions are mitigation strategies. These tactics include improving our energy efficiency, insulating our homes and commercial buildings, buying fuel efficient vehicles and carpooling as well as leveraging clean and renewable forms of energy like wind, solar, and hydro power. Climate change adaptation strategies focus on coping with the impacts that we are already experiencing, and those that are projected to increase in the future. These efforts include everything from emergency preparedness plans for increases in extreme heat, precipitation and storm events, to changes in the ways we construct homes, businesses and roads. Adaptation also means diversifying the tourism industry to rely less on snow and cold, changing agricultural practices to reflect shifts in the growing season, and preparing our health systems for increases in heat related and vector borne diseases.

The health impacts of climate change are no small piece of the puzzle – and the Public Health Council of the Upper Valley is dedicated to finding ways to adapt to these effects and mitigate future ones. “We recently completed a preliminary assessment and plan to look at how climate change may affect health in the Upper Valley, with the help of the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission and our UVAW partners. Though our area has seen worrisome changes on several climate related public health related indicators, such as an increase in the incidence of Lyme disease and a longer allergy season, we are most concerned about the rising number of hot days,” says Alice Ely, PHC Coordinator. Extreme heat events are calculated using three metrics: number of days over 90°F, number of days over 95°F, and average temperature on the hottest day of the year. Already we have begun to see increases in these numbers from the historical data (1980-2009), and by the middle of this century, northern New Hampshire is expected to experience a 2 to 4 fold increase in the number days over 90°F, a 3 to 7 fold increase in days over 95°F, and a 4 to 10 fold increase in the average temperature on the hottest day of the year.

It may seem strange to be worrying about extreme heat in our area – after all, we’re known for our snow and ice storms, not for sweltering summers. But one of the reasons the projected rise in the number of hot days is so alarming is that, by and large, New Englanders are not prepared to deal with extreme heat events or stretches of hot weather. Few homes have air conditioning units, and they are especially rare in lower income communities. While social services can draw on many resources to provide fuel and heating solutions in winter months, we have far fewer strategies for addressing cooling needs. As with winter storms, extremely hot days and stretches of heat are especially hazardous for vulnerable populations such as older adults, the disabled, people with existing health conditions, and low income groups.

In response to the concerns about the health related consequences of climate change in our area, the Public Health Council of the Upper Valley is partnering with the Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup (UVAW) to host a community forum on this topic. At this Climate Change Impacts to Health event, we will be sharing information about how the climate is changing in the Upper Valley, what Vermont and New Hampshire are doing to adapt to changes in our climate, and how community leaders can work together to reduce the health impacts from a changing climate The PHC and UVAW will be introducing an upcoming project to address the impacts of extreme heat on older adult populations, and will be looking for feedback and partnerships for this work. The Public Health Council and our partners in the Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup are looking forward to seeing you at this important discussion. Alex Jaccaci, Co-Chair of UVAW believes that “it will require leadership, creativity, problem solving, teamwork and drawing from our commitment to our communities and neighbors to get ahead of these challenges. But this is what we will do – turn these challenges into opportunities to be stronger and more resilient as communities and as a region.” We couldn’t agree more.

To RSVP for the Climate Change Impacts to Health Forum, visit: http://tinyurl.com/UV-CLIMATE-HEALTH, and learn more about the development of an Upper Valley climate and health plan at https://uvpublichealth.org/climate-and-health/.

“I participated in the Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training in March of 2015. When I arrived, I met a group of students who were all passionate about making a difference in their schools and communities. It was amazing to be surrounded by people my age that cared as much as I did about youth mental health. It was great to see a representation from many different schools in the area, including Hanover, Lebanon, Mascoma, Hartford, and Stevens.

The beginning of the training focused on the broad subject of mental health. We learned about different mental illnesses and how to interact with those who have them. We learned the correct way to refer to those suffering from mental illnesses – for example, saying “the person with schizophrenia,” rather than, “the schizophrenic”. The two terms mean the same thing, but the first one recognizes the illness as just part of the person, instead of letting the illness define the person.

Next we looked at various hypothetical scenarios in which our peers needed help with regard to their mental health. Small groups of students were each assigned a scenario; the groups discussed how to help their peers and presented their ideas to the larger group. Then the other groups had time to give feedback on that group’s approach to the problem and other possible solutions. These scenarios were helpful because they showed us that often we are not the ones providing help. Often we are the one who brings the friend to the school counselor, the one who helps the friend talk with his or her parents, or the one who goes to the friend’s sibling and expresses concern.

After the scenarios, we practiced listening to a peer, assessing the situation, and helping the peer get support. Part of this involved asking, “Have you thought about killing yourself? Do you have a plan?” These words are very difficult to ask, and I was grateful for the opportunity to practice, though I hoped I would never have to use them in a real situation. Just months after the training, though, I asked my friend those questions. My friend needed help and I was able to see how severe the situation was. I am so glad I knew what to ask and how to ask it. I was able to help my friend receive treatment.

The YMHFA training helped me to support my friends, my classmates, and even complete strangers. I would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in supporting other teens with mental health issues. Even if there is not a specific mental health issue involved, the skills from this training can still be very useful. I believe there should be a group of students with knowledge of mental health in every high school in the country – it would help students live healthier, happier, longer lives.” – Submitted by Ella Williams, Hanover High School

West Central Behavioral Health made a commitment to provide training in Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid several years ago as one way to make our communities more supportive of people living with mental illness. This evidence-based program is usually for adults who want to help others experiencing mental health crisis or recognize when mental illness may be a factor in their interactions with others.

About two years ago, a Destination Imagination Team at Lebanon High School completed a community service project entitled “Students Helping Students Through Mental Health First Aid,” which brought a slightly modified version of the training to a group of upper level students. After a successful trial run, Katie McDonnell, at West Central Behavioral Health, reports, “We worked with a leadership group of students and advisors at Lebanon High who applied for, and received, a 3 year grant to provide two trainings per year to high school juniors and seniors who were identified as ‘mature.’ This is critical because the subject matter is quite powerful, and requires a level of maturity. Our trainings have been very successful with this population. I believe so strongly that the students are KEY in being educated about this topic. They are often the first to notice something may be going on with a peer, so providing them the information and some skills on how to help is SO important.” The grant allowed the Lebanon students to reach out to students in neighboring schools to spread the training around.

To learn about MHFA and YMHFA training opportunities in the Upper Valley, go to: www.wcbh.org.