Climate Change and Mental Health: Why Increased Temperatures Means Increased Depression
Copyright © 2012 EarthDay2012.com. All rights reserved.
Depression and Climate Change
If you think climate change is only a concern for polar bears and environmentalists, think again. A report titled “A Climate of Suffering: The Real Cost of Living with Inaction on Climate Change” suggests that the extreme weather associated with global warming could hit close to home—specifically, inside your own brain. Climate change is causing clinical depression symptoms and needing various depression treatments.
What is Depression?
Depression is a condition of mental disturbance, typically with lack of energy and difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life. Clinical depression symptoms can range from feelings of worthlessness to impaired concentration and fatigue. Depression is more than just a low mood – it’s a serious illness which requires treatment.
Climate Change and Depression
The science believed to be behind global warming is relatively simple; air pollutants known as greenhouse gases trap heat near the earth’s surface, causing widespread increases in temperature. Although some greenhouse gases occur naturally, scientists believe that human activities—particularly the burning of fossil fuels—have altered the composition of the earth’s atmosphere. And the effects of climate change cannot be solved by simply cranking up the AC; scientists predict that “extreme weather events” like cyclones and droughts will become much more common as a result of temperature changes.
We are used to measuring the cost of natural disasters in money and human lives. What we sometimes forget is that the psychological toll of these events can persist long after the physical damage has disappeared. This latest study, commissioned by the Climate Institute, focuses on recent severe weather in Australia. Researchers found that mental disorders spiked in the aftermath of a drought, with up to one in five people experiencing “emotional injury, stress, depression and despair.” Rates of substance abuse, clinical depression, domestic violence, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also rose. And given that disorders like depression and anxiety increase one’s risk of suicide, the problem is a serious one.
Global Warming Linked To Rise In Mental Illness
This phenomenon has only recently garnered attention, so any explanations are necessarily speculative. It is not hard to see why the man who witnessed a cyclone destroy his home might later suffer from depression and PTSD, but scientists suggest that such events can also disrupt the “social cohesion” of an entire community. A business that fails in the wake of a natural disaster may have to lay off hundreds or even thousands of employees, resulting in private financial troubles and a potential exodus of workers. The psychological effects of this kind of upheaval can be devastating, especially for children; following Cyclone Larry, roughly one in ten primary schoolers displayed symptoms of PTSD.
This particular study was limited to Australia, but if current climate trends continue, we could witness a worldwide outbreak of anxiety, depression and mental disorders. We need to find ways to reduce pollution levels—our own peace of mind is at stake.
Hurricane Season has brought us great devastation and mental health consequences such as clinical depression. Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Katia and Hurricane Lee are showing us that we need to take a serious look at the devastating effects of climate change, and how they threaten our mental health.
Copyright © 2012 EarthDay2012.com. All rights reserved.
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