Climate change and mental health

• The last decade was the hottest in 125,000 years
• Carbon dioxide reaches its highest levels in more than 2 million years
• Earth is now losing 1.2 trillion tons of ice each year
• Air, water and soil pollution are responsible for an estimated 9 million premature deaths every year
• By the end of the century, it will be impossible to live in many parts of the planet due to high temperatures or climate change induced sea level rise.

“I haven’t been feeling very well lately and by reading that we’ve exhausted the Earth’s natural resources made me feel even worse.”
G., 22 years old

The destruction caused by human presence on the planet has been known for years. What has recently begun to be recognized is the fact that climate change poses significant risks to people’s mental health, to the point where the World Health Organization is urging countries to include mental health support in their climate change actions. It is pointed out that the consequences of climate change on mental health are unevenly distributed amid the population. Factors such as socio-economic status, gender and age influence render certain groups of people for example the elderly, pregnant women and children, low-income people and native groups, more susceptible to severe climate change consequences.

The psychological impacts of global climate change are:

• Direct consequences such as traumatic effects due to extreme weather events, and loss of loved ones due to extreme weather conditions
• Indirect consequences such as the threats to ones emotional well-being due to concern or uncertainty for future risks related to climate change (e.g. food insecurity, land loss, migration, pollution)
• Psychosocial such as chronic social and community impacts of climate-related heat, drought, migration and conflict

According to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the impact of climate change on psychology range from stress and anxiety to clinical disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress and suicidality. The effects on psychology associated with climate change rarely occur in isolation, but often interact with other social and environmental factors. However, certain groups of people such as children, pregnant women, people with pre-existing mental illnesses, people who are economically vulnerable or those who have experienced extreme weather events are at greater risk for climate change related mental health problems.

“Don’t people realize how much harm they have caused? It saddens me to see people eating meat, throwing their garbage everywhere and not taking care of nature and animals.”

A., 21 years old

Although statistics are disappointing, this does not mean that the damage cannot be partially repaired. If carbon dioxide emissions were limited globally, then we could slow the increase of global warming or even gradually reverse it. Of course, one can think that if measures are needed at a global level, then individual actions such as not using a plastic straw or getting a reusable cup for ones coffee probably won’t make any difference. But given that our planet is now home to 8 billion people, it seems like the smallest action can make a difference. In addition, research shows that individual behavioral changes can reduce the global environmental footprint and thus reduce climate change related anxiety, as contributing to the problem provides a sense of control over future outcomes.