Until now, we knew that climate change affects physical health. We don’t need to be scientists to figure this out people with heart disease, respiratory problems or other pre-existing medical conditions, are at greater risk of exposure to high temperatures. But what about the impact of the climate crisis on mental health?
News global research Published by Imperial College London, the journal maps the multiple negative impacts of climate change on mental health, particularly in the most vulnerable communities. The results of the study are reflected in the Global Research and Action Agenda, which has subcategories for each climate zone. The Agenda also proposes actions to protect mental health, tailored to the needs of each community, along with actions related to climate change.
Research in 90 countries
The diary was the result of joint work through the international project Connecting Climate Minds, funded by the Wellcome charity. More than 960 people from 90 countries participated by voting on the experiences of different social groups. Research scientists and mental health professionals worked in workshops with youth, farmers and fishermen from regions affected by climate change, local communities, and residents of areas affected by natural disasters.
Despair and sadness
It describes how people in the everyday world are dealing with mental health issues caused or exacerbated by the climate crisis.
One study participant, for example, described how people in his community felt after a major flood caused by a tropical storm: “Our fields and houses were drowned in mud, crops, livestock, seeds and plants were lost to feed our families. All this caused great sadness, hopelessness and crisis in families because we did not have access to quality food.
The investigation does not identify the witness, only that he lives in the local community. However, the feelings he describes are universal and no different from those felt by the flood victims of Thessaly, for example, in 2023, after Daniel’s disastrous passage.
Climate change and mental health
Madeleine Thomson, Wellcome’s Head of Climate Impacts and Adaptation, said: “Climate change affects both our physical and mental health, but until recently we knew little about the latter. By bringing together scientists and people with experience on the front lines of the crisis, the team identified where the need is greatest, so we know what we need to focus on to protect people’s mental health in a changing climate.”
The impact of climate change on mental health has previously been overlooked. A growing body of evidence shows that the mental health effects of the climate crisis include worsening symptoms, increased suicide rates, and lower levels of mental health and well-being among people diagnosed with mental health disorders during climate change-related disasters. While people living with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression are more likely to die during a heat wave, some communities are at increased risk of conditions such as chronic grief and post-traumatic stress disorder due to extreme weather.
The most vulnerable are disproportionately affected
Vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected in some areas by increased climate risks, lack of access to mental health facilities, and lack of access to resources that can help them adapt (such as living near green spaces in cities). Until now, research on mental health and climate change has focused on the wealthiest countries in the so-called “Global North,” which in itself exacerbates inequalities.
The Global Agenda brings together the experiences of people from different parts of the world – such as Nepal, the Philippines and the Caribbean. It demonstrates how extreme climate events are associated with an increased burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, stress and suicide in people of all ages.
Political will is needed
One of the problems the journal identified is that research on climate and mental health is often disconnected, isolated and entrenched. As part of the solution, they propose interdisciplinary approaches that will be inclusive, combinative, and will not “catch” people’s expressions, but co-create with them.
They emphasize that this can be done not in a vacuum, but rather in a political climate where decision makers promote integrated climate and mental health policies, practices and frameworks.
Professor Sir David Nabarro, co-director of the Institute for Global Health Innovation, said: “At least 960 scientists, practitioners and practitioners from around the world have been active for a year through the Wellcome-supported Connecting Climate Minds programme. to examine how people’s mental health is affected by the climate crisis. Future generations will benefit greatly as their findings inspire meaningful action.”