Introduction

Given the widespread media coverage of the changing climate and its impacts on the environment, many people may be facing climate anxiety or worsening mental health as a result. This article aims to provide a brief overview of the correlation between climate change and declining rates of mental health. 

Brief overview of climate change

Climate change is a long-term change in average weather patterns which define local, regional, and global climates. These changes can be induced by human activity such as fossil fuel burning which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere. This can raise the earth’s average surface temperature, leading to devastating global effects on habitats. This long-term heating is known as global warming which has been observed since the 19th century due to human activities.¹ Recently, global warming has exceeded 1.5⁰C between February 2023 and January 2024. This increase was driven by human-caused climate change and the natural phenomenon of El Nino. A global temperature increase is cause for concern not only for the natural landscape but for people’s mental states as well.²

The importance of discussing mental health impacts

Air pollution and global warming can significantly increase the risk of developing neurological conditions such as stroke or dementia. Changes to nutritional availability in regions undergoing drastic changes affect the overall health of people including the development of psychiatric illnesses, and changes to infectious disease patterns. Climate change may also indirectly harm people’s mental health by causing job loss, forced relocation, and loss of social communities.³

Direct psychological impacts

Climate anxiety

Social media coverage of the disasters that climate change brings is constant and hard to escape in the present digital age. Whether it’s news regarding the disappearing landscapes or the lack of action by world leaders, the message conveyed is that the future is bleak. As a result, more individuals are presenting with symptoms of climate anxiety which refers to distress about the changing climate and its effect on humans. Clinicians have noted that it may manifest as intrusive thoughts or feelings of distress about future climate disasters or humankind’s long-term existence. Another physiological component includes symptoms such as abnormal heart racing, shortness of breath (SOB), and behavioural symptoms such as the inability to function normally in social situations or disruptions to one’s relationships or work and school life. Climate anxiety is different from simply worrying about the climate; climate anxiety may be overwhelming and debilitating to the individual.⁴ 

Common symptoms of climate anxiety

While clinical presentation varies across the population, some common elements help in forming a diagnosis. The symptoms listed below are a few examples:

• Panic attacks
• Loss of appetite
• Irritability 
• Sleeplessness 

Climate anxiety may range from mild stress to clinical disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide, and may also include maladaptive coping strategies such as intimate partner violence and substance misuse. At-risk groups are most likely to be first responders, climate activists, and climate scientists as they are the most informed regarding the dangers of a changing climate. Vulnerable populations such as the chronically ill, elderly, immunocompromised, and many others are also at risk of suffering from climate anxiety if they are exposed to its effects and consequences.⁵

Why climate anxiety can be harmful 

Living with anxiety may be debilitating and prevent an individual from continuing with their daily lives. Climate anxiety specifically, may shake a person’s sense of safety and security which can increase feelings of insecurity. Anxiety can take on the traditional forms listed above, but it can result in strange physical symptoms as well. Palpitations, shortness of breath, panic, muscle tension, and insomnia are a few physical symptoms that arise due to climate anxiety. Lack of sleep is concerning since it can cause various health concerns; sleep deficiency can lead to kidney problems, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, depression and other psychiatric conditions. 

Other downstream effects of living with climate anxiety include suffering from increased guilt, shame, and anger. This can cause friction within an individual’s social life, leading to relationship problems which can stress the person even further.⁶

Trauma and PTSD

While hearing about the disastrous changes occurring in the world causes grief and anxiety, living through a natural disaster or climate emergency often induces severe trauma and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in survivors. Over the last five decades, climate change has driven a five-fold increase in the rate of occurrence of natural disasters with events happening simultaneously in some instances. This means that an individual is more likely to live through a natural disaster in their present lifetime compared to half a century ago.⁷

Campfires, or wildfires, are devastating to the environment and can destroy entire neighbourhoods overnight. Many camp-fire survivors, as a result, have reported PTSD rates which are on par with war veterans. The level of distress and harm caused to these individuals is extreme, yet the lack of support for these climate-related problems has made it hard for survivors to access diagnoses and treatments. The process of returning to a destroyed home and rebuilding it can be taxing and forces the individual to re-live certain horrors of the disaster. They will also be forced to cope with these symptoms of PTSD with very little support.⁸ This is why it is important to bring awareness to climate-related mental health conditions and provide adequate support. PTSD symptoms from the Mayo Clinic have been listed below: 

• Intrusive memories:
  • Recurrent, unwanted, memories of the event
  • Flashbacks are where the person is reliving the event
  • Upsetting dreams or nightmares
  • Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds them of the traumatic event
• Avoidance:
  • Avoid speaking of the event
  • Avoiding places, people, or activities that remind them of the traumatic event
• Negative changes in thinking and/or mood:
  • Negative thoughts about themselves, other people, or the world
  • Hopelessness about the future
  • Memory problems including lack of memory surrounding the event
  • Difficulty maintaining close relationships
  • Feeling detached from family and friends
  • Lack of interest in activities previously enjoyed
  • Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
  • Feeling emotionally numb
• Changes in physical or emotional reactions:
  • Being easily startled or frightened
  • Always being on guard for danger
  • Self-destructive behaviour
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Trouble concentrating 
  • Irritability, or greater outbursts of anger
  • Overwhelming guilt or shame

It is important to seek help if experiencing any of the symptoms above so it does not lead to further problems later in life. 

Vulnerable populations

Certain groups are considered vulnerable populations because they are more susceptible to the harms of climate change, and are more likely to suffer severe symptoms as a result. Social and economic factors such as income, education, healthcare access, and housing all play a role in how an individual may handle climate-related conditions. In the United States, socially vulnerable groups include communities of colour, low-income groups, certain immigrant groups, and those with limited English proficiency. These groups may live in poorer locations which are more susceptible to the hazards of climate change including flooding, extreme heat, and air pollution. They may have limited access to healthcare which makes them less likely to receive treatment for climate-related mental health concerns. Pre-existing medical conditions may exacerbate symptoms within this population as well. For those who live in urban areas, poor infrastructure or urban planning may result in buildings which cannot handle climate-related events. For instance, older buildings may face greater property damage after a flood and may be harder to repair. These communities may not be prioritized when disaster support is given thus making them a vulnerable group.⁹

Conclusion

Overall, this article has provided a brief introduction to mental health concerns surrounding the changing climate and has illustrated the need for further research. Habitat loss, job loss, forced relocation, and community disruptions are a few examples of the effects of climate change. Resulting conditions such as climate anxiety should be taken seriously as they can cause a significant level of distress later causing indirect health problems. Another issue arising from climate change is the increasing rates of occurrence of natural disasters which devastate communities. The trauma and PTSD from these events mimic that of war veterans and should be treated as soon as symptoms are detected. However, many vulnerable communities are often overlooked forcing people to live in unsafe conditions with untreated and undiagnosed mental disorders. Climate change has devastating effects within communities and further research should aim to improve access to treatment for individuals.