The effects of climate change on mental health

The need to fight climate change is almost always talked about from an environmental point of view. For example, an environmental argument is that the warming of the Earth will lead to the increased melting of the ice caps, which will raise the sea level and damage coastal cities. However, one aspect of climate change that is less talked about is the effect it has on mental health.

A primary consequence of climate change is the increased frequency of extreme weather events. Hurricanes, floods, and wildfires have all become more common in the U.S., and the aftermath of these natural disasters has a direct impact on people, such that after a disaster 54% of adults and 45% of children experience depression. An example of how a natural disaster affects the mental health of a community is Hurricane Katrina. Ever since the hurricane hit in 2005, survivors have experienced increased levels of anxiety and addiction. In the months that followed there was a 61% increase in the number of psychiatric helpline calls. As a result of the hurricane, many people lost their homes, and some lost loved ones. The event was traumatic for the people of New Orleans but, unfortunately, the hurricane also devastated the system in which people could seek help. A study done by the New Orleans Health Department found that of the 208 psychiatrists that were in New Orleans prior to the hurricane, between 22 and 42 psychiatrists returned. Ultimately, these extreme weather events have an association with elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Furthermore, there are more long-term effects on mental health that are influenced by climate change. Research has shown that people behave more irritably and violently when exposed to extreme heat. It has also been found that a wide range of mental health outcomes, from distress symptoms to clinical disorders, can arise due to climate change. Therefore, as temperatures continue to rise, it can fuel anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and vascular dementia, but it can also lead to more violent behavior.

With climate change leading to more extreme weather events and other problems, more people will be left to deal with the psychological effects. Recently, the use of the term “eco-anxiety” has been used to encapsulate the way people feel about climate change. The American Psychology Association describes eco-anxiety as the “chronic fear of environmental cataclysm that comes from observing the seemingly irrevocable impact of climate change.” Thus, it is important to emphasize the negative consequences climate change can have on the mental health of people in order to better prepare them. A key element in mitigating the effects of climate change on mental health is to foster resilience in a community. Studies have found that encouraging optimism, boosting personal preparedness, and having a social network increases the resilience in individuals and communities; and “resilient communities can create the physical and social infrastructure that makes them less susceptible to negative effects.”