It is well known that climate change negatively impacts physical health, but the impact it has on mental health often gets overlooked. The purpose of this article was to explore this issue, specifically for vulnerable and marginalized populations. The authors of this paper argue that more experience based research should be conducted, interventions must be sought after, and that this problem is accelerating- especially for the marginalized.
Natural disasters are seen as isolated events, but this is a common oversight as climate change drives them. If these events were perceived as a result of ongoing climate change and not isolated incidents, they could be better prepared for. These disasters often induce panic, stress, and wide spread anxiety for those involved. Despite this, the emotional well-being of these individuals is often neglected.
When mental health is acknowledged, it is quick to be labelled as the typical temporary stress response which is deemed to be normal in such conditions. Although this may be true, it is important to have medical professionals be mindful of pre-existing mental health conditions of others, and the fact that these events can trigger more severe health problems. For example, it is noted that several months, or even years, after experiencing a natural disaster, mental health disorders increase. This was seen in a specific case after Hurricane Katrina, as marginalized low-income groups of African American women reported signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Although PTSD is more commonly a result of acute disasters, extreme prolonged weather events such as drought can increase suicide tendencies. Studies have found that during periods of drought, those living in rural areas experience more distress then those living in urban areas. This furthers depicts the reality that the effect of climate change on mental health is harshly endured by marginalized individuals.
To avoid this harsh reality, interventions for climate change and mental health must be set into action. This can be accomplished by small and large scale interventions. These can include building awareness about mental health and climate change in general, advocating to reduce the environmental footprint, and taking precautionary measures to prepare for extreme weather events. Furthermore, medical professionals can be urged to take more concrete actions, and larger associations with global networks can be used to advocate about this issue across the world.
The effect of climate change on emotional well-being is becoming more evident, notably for the marginalized. Further research needs to explore interventions that are more suitable and accessible to all, not just developed countries.
Source:
Hayes, K., Blashki, G., Wiseman, J., Burke, S., & Reifels, L. (2018). Climate change and mental health: Risks, impacts and priority actions. International Journal of Mental Health Systems,12(1). doi:10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6
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