Public Health - Planetary Health - Eco-health - Environment and Health - Climate change - Environmental change and mental wellbeing
Valesca Venhof MD, MSc PH
As a Medical Doctor and Public Health specialist, my specialization lies in the intricate nexus of Environment and Health. I firmly believe in the symbiotic relationship between human wellbeing and the natural environment, a cornerstone supported by disciplines such as Planetary Health and Eco Health.
About Valesca Venhof
I’m a Medical Doctor with over a decade of clinical expertise specializing in Rehabilitation Medicine. Throughout my career, I have been actively engaged in integrating an active lifestyle, exercise, and sports into treatment modalities and preventive healthcare protocols. Presently, I work as a medical practitioner in the field of Public Health, with a particular focus on the intersection of environmental change and human health.
In addition to holding a Master’s degree in Medicine and specialized training in Rehabilitation Medicine (currently non-practicing), I have a Master’s degree in Public Health, specializing in Environment and Health, obtained from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
Furthermore, I’m a Ph.D. candidate in Planetary Health at Maastricht University, the Netherlands. See “publications” for more details on my research.
As I’m a firm believer in the symbiotic relationship between human wellbeing and the natural environment, I deeply embrace the principles of planetary health, eco-health, and regenerative farming. In recent years, I have been actively involved in advocacy efforts and educational initiatives addressing the interplay between climate change and health, planetary health, and eco-health.
My beliefs
Holistic approach to wellbeing
The various aspects of a person's life, including physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions, are interconnected. Instead of focusing solely on one aspect, such as physical health, a holistic approach recognizes that all these dimensions are interrelated and influence each other.
Planetary Health
This emerging interdisciplinary field recognizes that human health is intimately interconnected with the health of the planet's ecosystems, biodiversity, climate, and other environmental factors.
Key aspects of planetary health include:
- Systems Thinking
- Sustainability
- Global Perspective
- Preventive Approach
Diverse perspectives
To create a more comprehensive understanding of the complex problems we face as humanity, we need to embrace diverse perspectives and sources of knowledge.
Two eyed seeing
This concept emphasizes the importance of integrating both Indigenous knowledge and Western scientific knowledge to gain a better insight in the world.
Focus
- Public/Planetary health research
- Education (healthcare) professionals
- Health communication
- Patient education
- Publications for (non-peer reviewed) journals, or professional audiences
Skills
- Communication and writing
- Academic scientific research and writing
- Literature searching
- Professional ethics
- Medical terminology
What can I do for you?
Public/Planetary Health Consultancy and Word Smithing
I offer expertise in Public/Planetary Health research, writing, assessments and strategic development. I can help you in conducting thorough research, crafting effective health education and communication strategies, fostering collaboration and networking, and delivering comprehensive training sessions for healthcare professionals, community workers, and other stakeholders.
My proficiency extends to distilling complex information to its essence, as well as providing meticulous attention to detail in problem-solving.
Additionally, I possess the ability to author medical reports that are both comprehensible and engaging, tailored to suit the specific needs of your target audience.
Need more information? Send me an e-mail or reach out via LinkedIn.
Posts
Environmental Distress Among Dutch Young Adults: Worried Minds or Indifferent Hearts?
Our natural environment is changing rapidly—and young people feel it deeply. Growing awareness of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation is taking a toll on the mental wellbeing of adolescents and young adults. In this study, we explored how these concerns manifest as environmental distress and solastalgia among Dutch young adults aged 16 to 35.
Using an adapted version of the Environmental Distress Scale (EDS), we surveyed a representative sample of 1006 participants across the Netherlands. While most previous research on solastalgia has focused on older populations in areas directly affected by resource extraction or environmental disasters, our study offers a first look into how young people in a Western, urban context are mentally affected by environmental change. We also investigated whether factors such as place attachment, perceived control, trust, and personality traits (BFI-10) play a role in how intensely this distress is experienced.
Published in EcoHealth, this study highlights the urgent need for a deeper understanding of how environmental degradation impacts mental health. It calls for closer collaboration between researchers, mental health professionals, and environmental advocates to develop strategies that enhance mental resilience, build environmental awareness, and empower young people to engage meaningfully with the future of our planet.
The EU-Mercosur Trade Deal: concerns for public health and the environment.
The Greens/EFA Members of the European Parliament are urging European ministers not to accept the EU-Mercosur Trade Deal. You can support them by sending an email to the European ministers, telling them to reject the deal and protect local farmers and the environment: https://act.greens-efa.eu/mercosur
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