Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Implications, and Guidance
- Abstract
When you think about climate change, mental health might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Americans are beginning to grow familiar with climate change and its health impacts: worsening asthma and allergies; heat-related stress; foodborne, waterborne, and vector-borne diseases; illness and injury related to storms; and floods and droughts. However, the connections with mental health are not often part of the discussion. It is time to expand information and action on climate and health, including mental health. The health, economic, political, and environmental implications of climate change affect all of us. The tolls on our mental health are far reaching. They induce stress, depression, and anxiety; strain social and community relationships; and have been linked to increases in aggression, violence, and crime. Children and communities with few resources to deal with the impacts of climate change are those most impacted. To compound the issue, the psychological responses to climate change, such as conflict avoidance, fatalism, fear, helplessness, and resignation are growing. These responses are keeping us, and our nation, from properly addressing the core causes of and solutions for our changing climate, and from building and supporting psychological resiliency. This updated report is intended to further inform and empower health and medical professionals, community and elected leaders, and the public.
- Resource Type
- Peer-reviewed article
- Authors
- Clayton, S. Speiser, M. Manning, C. M. Krygsman, K.
- Date
- March 2017
- Institution
- American Psychological Association, ecoAmerica
- Health and Human Impact
- Mental health
- Solutions
- Behavior change Climate adaptation/resilience
- Other
- Climate and environmental justice/health equity Vulnerable populations