The global crises of ecological degradation and social injustice are mutually reinforcing products of the same flawed systems. Dominant human culture is morally obliged to challenge and reconstruct these systems in order to mitigate future planetary harm. In this commentary, we argue that doing so requires a critical examination of the values and narratives which underlie systems of oppression and power. We argue for the moral necessity of a socially just approach to the ecological crisis.

Naturopathic medicine is a growing profession in North America that provides expertise in complementary and alternative, or integrative care to pediatric patients. It is imperative that healthcare providers have an understanding of the training and scope of other health professionals in order to effectively make decisions regarding research, collaborative clinical care, and policy. Given the prevalence of use of complementary and alternative medicine by children and families in North America, and the growing interest in “integrative” medicine, we aim to offer an overview of naturopathic care for children. This document describes the principles, training, and scope of naturopathic medicine, including health promotion, disease prevention, and illness management. It describes the process by which naturopathic doctors create an integrative healthcare plan for children, evaluate and apply evidence, and integrate ethical issues in practice management, and speaks to the role naturopathic doctors have regarding advocacy for community and planetary health as it relates to pediatrics.

To assess chiropractic (DC) and naturopathic doctors’ (ND) knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour with respect to the pediatric patients in their practice. Cross-sectional surveys were developed in collaboration with DC and ND educators. Surveys were sent to randomly selected DCs and NDs in Ontario, Canada in 2004, and a national online survey was conducted in 2014. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, non-parametric tests, and linear regression. Response rates for DCs were n = 172 (34%) in 2004, n = 553 (15.5%) in 2014, and for NDs, n = 171 (36%) in 2004, n = 162 (7%) in 2014. In 2014, 366 (78.4%) of DCs and 83 (61%) of NDs saw one or more pediatric patients per week. Pediatric training was rated as inadequate by most respondents in both 2004 and 2014, with most respondents (n = 643, 89.9%) seeking post-graduate training by 2014. Respondents’ comfort in treating children and youth is based on experience and post-graduate training. Both DCs and NDs that see children and youth in their practices address a broad array of pediatric health concerns, from well child care and preventative health, to mild and serious illness. Although the response rate in 2014 is low, the concerns identified a decade earlier remain. The majority of responding DCs and NDs see infants, children, and youth for a variety of health conditions and issues, but self-assess their undergraduate pediatric training as inadequate. We encourage augmented pediatric educational content be included as core curriculum for DCs and NDs and suggest collaboration with institutions/organizations with expertise in pediatric education to facilitate curriculum development, especially in areas that affect patient safety.

Climate-related adverse health outcomes are on the rise worldwide, and primary health care providers are at the forefront of the growing climate-health crisis. There is an urgent need for a codification of solutions and strategies for adaptation, resilience, and transformation in primary health care. This scoping review sought to answer the following research question: "What strategies are being implemented across all forms of primary health care to adapt to and address the climate crisis?” After iterative axial coding of the 94 retained papers, 15 themes emerged: community engagement; reaching vulnerable populations; transdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration; clinical strategies; research, surveillance; pluralism; patient education; continuing education and community of practice; benefits of nature; infrastructure resilience; advocacy; conservation; redefining health; provider wellbeing; and impact of health care. It behooves primary health care practitioners, especially those within dominant systems, to advocate strategies that promote health in all systems and policies. The planetary health crisis is a health crisis. It is urgent, it is human-created, and it can be mitigated.

Background: Medical students face a unique collection of stressors, both intrinsic and external with consequences to health and well-being, ultimately impacting patient care. Health education institutions play a role in perpetuating or mitigating this experience of stress. Objective: This pilot project aimed to identify the impact of an extra-curricular wellness program on well-being among naturopathic medical students. Methods: Participants engaged in a 2-day facilitated wellness retreat followed by three monthly workshops, which coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frequencies of pre-defined behaviours, and validated measures of stress, resilience, and mental health were assessed prior to the start of the program, immediately upon completion, and 6 months after the program concluded and were compared with wait-listed controls. Results: There was a clear trend toward reduced stress perception and anxiety, along with improved resilience among program participants through the duration of the study and compared with controls. The positive trends over the course of the study, especially during a global pandemic, suggests that the intervention was beneficial to participants. Conclusion: The results suggest that supporting students in cultivating the skills of resilient coping may reduce perceived stress and improve mental health for medical students, even during times of uncontrollable external stress.