Mental health and climate change are intrinsically interconnected. Many a time it remains less obvious and apparent as we fail to appreciate the totality of the interlinkages of the impact of adverse climate change on mental health. Climate change in recent years has become the singular most important issue across the world. As the earth becomes warmer due to anthropogenic activities; this invariably precipitates climate change thus escalating the rate of events such as flood, drought, cyclone, tsunami, and various other events. Most of us are quite aware of physical and community-specific issues and effects during and after the disaster. The mental issue most of the time misses the attention of the public glare, scrutiny and analysis. COVID – 19 in its wake has really foregrounded the issue of mental health. In
the case of climate change, the manifestation of mental issues comes in various forms and ways. Anxiety, grief and stress due to the events stemming from climate change result in the emergence of various unique challenges within the society. The aftermath of a disaster generates traumatic stress having short term as well as long term consequences. Not every person on this earth faces the effects of climate change equally. Some are more vulnerable than the others viz., elderly, pregnant women, elderly people; not to miss out on many other people who suffer from cognitive and mobility impairment and other health issues such as chronic disease. An uptick in aggressive behaviour along with domestic violence has been linked with the increase in extreme weather events. Other phenomena which have been observed during and after the extreme events are an increase in suicidal tendencies, substance and alcohol use. The erratic extreme weather condition around the world is of serious concern.
This trend which is the manifestation of climate change affects everyone. No one can remain immune from climate change. And as already been stated above various mental disorder does crop up in droves during the adverse climatic condition. Disaster begets a unique set of psychological as well as psychopathological distress. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), general anxiety, depression are unavoidable and unmissable issues that are quite prominent and commonly seen during extraordinary situations caused by climate change. This oft-neglected area of climate change and mental
health required to be carefully assessed and examined. As we enter into the era called Anthropocene it is inevitable that climate change would affect every aspect of human life. Of course, mental health cannot be missed out on. Increasingly research is being conducted in this domain. Pertinent here is to appreciate and understand the ‘mental health issue’ in right earnest!
