Changing Climate and Mental Health

“No challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate

change” - Barrack Obama

Climate is changing towards being an extremist. It has crossed the barrier

from a sudden rise or fall in temperature. It has become more devastating
and showing extreme changes. Global warming and ozone depletion have
been subjected to debates and agendas. But climate change is now being
reflected in furious floods across the globe and especially affecting
countries like India and Pakistan. Natural calamities like landslides,
drought, forest fire, etc. are nothing else but the manifestation of climate
change.

It is not only affecting the environment and surroundings but it has started
to take a toll on the human psyche. All these natural disasters cause
destruction to livelihood by destroying crops, households, etc. It not only
affects physical health but is quite challenging for mental health.

The intensity of the damage caused by climate change determines its

effects on the mental health of the people. Along with the catastrophic
experience, it has nowadays become an issue for anxiety which is
characterized by having episodes of panic attacks following the stress for
climate change. The people are getting worried about their kids’ future and
the eligible couple is now hesitant in having kids. Their biggest concern is
where will their children be born and will they be able to survive. This is
coined as “eco-anxiety”. This is transforming into the spine-chilling
existential crisis.

The scientific literature search suggests that various work and papers
published after the 1980s have reflected the co-existence of climate
change and its adverse effects on global health.
According to a report by the American Public Health Association (APHA)
the victims of natural calamities are likely to develop symptoms of
psychological distress and morbidities like anxiety disorder, depression,
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and even suicides.
● Adverse mental effects are likely to be found in 25-50% of the
population.
● Depression targets approximately 54% grownups and 45% of
children.
● Hurricane Katrina brought psychological scars to almost 49% of the
survivors. They suffered from anxiety or mood disorder with a
forwarding shift in suicidal tendencies.

The group of people like children, pregnant women, individuals with

pre-existing mental illness, and the ones who suffer economically
disadvantaged fall in the category of higher risk for getting
psychological distress. Many climate change researchers
emphasized the environmental and human dimensions of the concept
but focus on the psychological aspects is questionable.

The need for the hour is not only to develop skills for disaster
management but also to make people become resilient and build their
capacity to face the catastrophe and enhance their coping
mechanism to deal with trauma and uncertainty of the future.

We need to think out of the box and come up with ideas and
innovations to fight climate change and its effects on mental well-
being. The prevention tool for the same needs to be the major focus.
It can be a capsule regarding training to manage disasters as well as
relaxation therapies like yoga and meditation can also be applied.