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Climate Change Affecting Mental Health
Climate Change Affecting Mental Health
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 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 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.