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Weather-related disasters put certain people at a greater risk of mental health issues. Yet children, especially pregnant persons with pre-existing mental illnesses and disaster victims, are affected. In addition, climate change and disastrous consequences cause Anxiety-induced reactions. As well as persistent and extreme mental health problems.
Flooding and extended periods of drought have been linked to increased tension, depression, and post-traumatic anxiety disorders. In addition, discomfort and losses are associated with a disaster. It includes the loss of a home or job and being cut off from one’s neighborhood and community, leading to depression and anxiety.
Increases in violent behavior and domestic abuse have also been related to severe weather events. In addition, hot weather could cause an increase in the use of alcohol to deal with anxiety. It also increases hospital and emergency department referrals for people who have mental health or psychological disorders, as well as a rise in suicide.
In the wake of a climate-related catastrophe, the demand for mental health treatment rises. Yet, at the same time, services are often disrupted, or their availability and accessibility are reduced.
Longer-Term and Interconnected Effects
Many possible long-term effects of climate change, such as human displacement, food shortages, work loss, and social isolation, have mental health implications. Population displacement related to climate change has already occurred, as per the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Since 2008, over 20 million people have been forced to move due to weather-related incidents. Some of them are flooding, hurricanes, wildfires, or severe heat.
Even more, they are fleeing their homes due to slower-moving occurrences like drought conditions and beach flooding. Other effects of climate change, such as food shortages or food safety problems, possible increases in insect-borne diseases (such as Dengue fever and malaria), and air pollution, can all affect mental health.
Psychological effects of climate change
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New Disease Threats
Psychological Effects of Climate Change Though physical health data is analyzed and published; the challenging psychosocial effect is often overlooked. As a result, there are regular warnings that existing and new viruses are emerging. They induce a widespread, if not always completely aware, sense of insecurity that leads to life’s current stressors.
Lyme disease is known for leaving long-term and debilitating traumatic memories in its victims. Deficits in cognition and mood disorders such as depression and fear are widespread—individuals suffering from inadequate therapies, particularly when diagnosed. Which can be difficult to come by—comes after years of severe infection and mysterious symptoms.
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Air Pollution
According to the World Health Organization, 90 percent of people breathe toxic air. Unfortunately, everyone’s use of fossil fuels seems to be the primary cause of air pollution.
Whenever coal, oil, and gas are burned, contaminants are emitted that undergo chemical processes to create particulate matter. Warmer temperatures hasten such reactions, resulting in more intense emissions. Inflammation trigger by the accumulation of particulate matter in human bodies.
Exposure to contaminated air has been related to a variety of diseases and disorders. These diseases are predicted to become more common, and they already impose a crushing financial burden in the thousands of dollars. The expense of human misery alone is enough to make phasing out the use of fossil energy a top priority for public health.
According to the American Psychological Association, children exposed to particulate matter in the atmosphere were more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression.
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Vulnerable Populations
The aged, ill, impaired, poor, and those whose occupations are dependent on the natural environment (harvesting, fishing, agriculture, and so on) are especially vulnerable to the psychological effects of climate change.
Property owners in areas affected by natural disasters or even where fossil fuel extraction has ruined the natural environment are more likely to experience “Solastalgia,” a crushing emotional pain triggered by seeing areas that once provided the cherished feeling of “home” now destroyed and irreparably harmed.
Wrapping It Up!!!
People tend to be more concerned about climate change socially than individually, and this type of concern may inspire climate action and improve mental health. Both are extremely important. I hope every piece of content here would have been helpful for you, but if there is still something left unclear, you can ask us. We will surely assist you in the best possible way we can.