Climate Change and Mental Health: The growing crisis and some ideas for coping
Saturday, July 27, 20204.
Today, more than 25% of the world’s population reports negative feelings, such as sadness, social isolation, and loneliness.
In turn, more than 150,000 people between the ages of 15 and 29 die by suicide each year, according to data from the World Health Organization.
Although it may seem hard to believe, climate change is a direct threat that can increase these figures.
The Psychological Toll of Climate Change
Anxiety and Depression
Climate change-related anxiety, often termed "eco-anxiety," is becoming increasingly prevalent. According to the European Climate and Health Observatory, extreme weather events cause post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, especially extreme temperatures that affect mood and increase the risk of suicide. Additionally, emergency psychiatric visits tend to increase during heat waves, as exposed by the World Economic Forum.
We’re dealing with things we’ve never seen before …like pyro-tornados.
PTSD and Trauma
Natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires have immediate and long-term psychological effects. A study by Schwartz et al. (2019) found that survivors of such events often experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can persist for years after the initial event. The trauma associated with losing homes, loved ones, and livelihoods significantly contributes to this mental health burden.
Vulnerable Populations
Children and Adolescents
Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the mental health impacts of climate change. A comprehensive review by Burke et al. (2018) suggests that exposure to extreme weather events during formative years can lead to long-term psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorders. These effects are compounded by the disruption of educational and social systems.
Indigenous Communities
Indigenous communities, whose livelihoods are closely tied to the environment, face unique challenges. A study by Middleton et al. (2020) highlights how climate change exacerbates existing mental health disparities among Indigenous populations, leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
Unequal Impact and Gender-Based Violence
In 2022, researchers at the University of Cambridge analyzed 41 studies exploring various types of extreme weather events, including storms, floods, droughts, heat waves, and wildfires.
They found that gender-based violence also appears to be exacerbated by extreme weather events. The impacts of climate change on mental health are not evenly distributed; rather, they disproportionately affect certain groups based on factors including socioeconomic status, gender, and age. This unequal burden exacerbates existing global mental health challenges.
Case Study: Florida
In places as hot as Florida with such extreme summers, the relationship between climate and susceptibility to depression is evident.
The data is not very encouraging.
According to a recent article published in Climate Central, Florida is experiencing unusually hot conditions.
In fact, extreme heat and humidity have arrived earlier than in other years, making the situation even more dangerous. The article also states that average daily temperatures are expected to reach levels of 5 on the Climate Shift Index in Central and South Florida.
Coping strategies for high temperatures
To cope with high temperatures this summer, consider the following strategies:
Air Conditioning: Turn on the air conditioner at home. For those who cannot afford higher electric bills, staying in the shade, using electric fans to keep the air circulating, taking cool showers, and drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated are essential. Spending time in air-conditioned places during the day, such as libraries, can also help.
Medication Management: High temperatures negatively affect people taking medications for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and similar conditions by altering their ability to sweat and raising the body’s core temperature. Doctors stress the importance of not stopping these medications, as the side effects can be much worse.
Exercise Moderation: Avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest hours of the day. If the outside temperature is 83 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, opt for shorter routines or exercise in air-conditioned gyms.
Appropriate Clothing: Wear light, loose-fitting clothing made of materials like cotton.
Hydration and Avoidance of Alcohol: Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages or caffeinated beverages because they accelerate fluid loss.
Integrating mental health into climate policies
Policymakers must recognize the mental health dimensions of climate change. Incorporating mental health considerations into national and international climate policies can ensure comprehensive strategies that address both environmental and psychological well-being.
Increased funding for research on climate change and mental health is essential. We don’t fully appreciate the extent of the crisis.
This includes supporting longitudinal studies to track the long-term psychological impacts of climate change and developing targeted interventions for vulnerable populations.
Final thoughts
Climate change will generate problems not only mentally, but also economically, agriculturally, and socially, among others.
The government, business leaders, and organizations, as well as the community in general, must start thinking deeply about the implications in our daily lives and propose urgent action plans to counteract its effects.
The psychological impacts are real. Vulnerable populations are suffering right now. Implementing effective mitigation strategies may be as profoundly challenging as they are long overdo.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Berry, H. L., Waite, T. D., Dear, K. B., Capon, A. G., & Murray, V. (2018). The case for systems thinking about climate change and mental health. Nature Climate Change, 8(4), 282-290. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0102-4
Burke, S. E., Sanson, A. V., & Van Hoorn, J. (2018). The psychological effects of climate change on children. Current Psychiatry Reports, 20(5), 35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0896-9
Clayton, S., Manning, C. M., Krygsman, K., & Speiser, M. (2017). Mental health and our changing climate: Impacts, implications, and guidance. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/03/mental-health-climate.pdf
Middleton, J., Cunsolo, A., Jones-Bitton, A., Wright, C. J., & Harper, S. L. (2020). Indigenous mental health in a changing climate: A systematic scoping review of the global literature. Environmental Research Letters, 15(5), 053001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab68a9
Obradovich, N., Migliorini, R., Paulus, M. P., & Rahwan, I. (2018). Empirical evidence of mental health risks posed by climate change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(43), 10953-10958. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1801528115
Schwartz, R. M., Sison, C., Kerath, S. M., Murphy, L., Breil, T., Sikavi, D., & Taioli, E. (2019). The impact of Hurricane Sandy on the mental health of New York area residents. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, 14(2), 97-110. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2019.0317
Vins, H., Bell, J., Saha, S., & Hess, J. J. (2019). The mental health outcomes of drought: A systematic review and causal process diagram. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(10), 13251-13275. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph121013251
