Mental health and climate change

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director of the World Health Organisation, acknowledged that climate change is one of the most pressing public health challenges for all people in the world. We looked at what the mental health implications of climate change are.

The effects of climate change are a real phenomenon - they are happening here and now. Today we are seeing increasing droughts, weather anomalies and increasingly severe fires. These phenomena affect the health of billions of people on Earth.

The concept of mental health

The term mental health is nowadays used in all cases. What exactly is mental health?

Consequences of global warming

Climate change, the destruction of ecosystems, the overexploitation of natural resources and the decline in biodiversity are all current challenges facing humans. What are the consequences? Cianconi, Betrò and Janiri (2020) identified that global warming will lead to widespread emergencies, which will be:

• extreme heat - heatwaves and increased global average land cover temperatures;
• water disasters - hurricanes, coastal storms and floods;
• winter storms - strong phenomena associated with vertical movements of air masses, such as thunderstorms and tornadoes, as well as extreme snowfall;
• droughts and fires.

Climate emergencies are the focus of the World Health Organisation, which has identified climate change as the greatest civilisation challenge of the 21st century. The organisation stressed that the impact of climate change on human health is underestimated and societies are not prepared for its effects. 

The danger of climate change

Climate change poses a threat to both physical wellbeing and health, increasing the risk of diarrhoeal diseases, malaria and vector-borne diseases. The greatest threat posed by climate change is the possible shortage of food and water, which could affect millions of people. Experiencing the above-mentioned emergencies can also negatively affect mental health.

McMichael identified a group particularly vulnerable to mental health problems due to climate change - these are children and adolescents. It has been identified that growing up in an uncertain future can contribute to the development of anxiety and mood disorders. Tucci, Mitchell and Goddard published data in 2007 showing that a quarter of Australian children were anxious about the fate of the world, so much so that they feared the world would end before they grew up.

Contemporary dangers of mental health

The American Psychological Association has distinguished two categories of mental health consequences of climate change. The first category was defined as acute changes. Acute changes will affect people who have directly experienced a disaster. The effects of these changes can include shock, trauma, acute stress-related disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. The second category is gradual changes, which result from an awareness of climate risks and their anticipation.

Permanent consequences for mental health as a result of climate change are highlighted. The American Psychological Association pointed out:

• depression and anxiety;
• addictions;
• strain on social relations;
• fear, fatalism and loss of meaning;
• increased suicide rates;
• increased risk of aggression and violence;
• Chronic stress and its effects.