Climate Change and Mental Health: A Growing Concern

Melting icebergs are just one of the symptoms of climate change.

Introduction

Climate Change, weather that turns more and more extreme due - mainly - to C02 that humans release, is an issue becoming more and more prevalent in both our lives and in the news cycle. It can take a toll on our mental health in more than one way, and it can affect everyone. Want to know how? What effects does it have? And some ways to deal with these completely valid feelings? Keep reading to find out.

How can climate change affect the public's mental health?

Climate Change and its effects on public mental health can come under many symptoms. The main names for these are called ‘Climate Anxiety’ or ‘Eco Anxiety’. The symptoms can include:

Anxiety - This can be linked to things such as intense worry or fear; stress; panic attacks; irritability; and sleeping issues.

Depression - This can be feelings of hopelessness in the face of the climate crisis humanity is in - which can lead to deep pessimism; feelings of emptiness - feeling like you have no purpose, this can also lead to hopelessness; and, in extreme cases, can lead to feelings of suicidal thoughts. 

Tensions in communities - Due to the anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, and even paranoia over the hopelessness with Climate Change, along with other mental health impacts it can have (such as lack of sleep), it can lead to tensions within communities. These can be things such as crime going on the rise due to people trying to stock up on as many supplies as they can find, or opportunistic people. This can also be smaller things, due to irritability, such as things like arguments and fights breaking out between people due to the heightened feelings.

Substance abuse - Due to the mental health issues that Climate Change can exacerbate, it can drive people to unhealthy and self-destructive coping mechanisms. Substance abuse can be one of them. 

Climate Change can cause us to act in ways we wouldn’t normally due to fear and anxiety.

PTSD - This can be true for people who are at the centre of a Climate Catastrophe - wildfire or flooding, for example - and can include things like flashbacks of the event; guilt or shame (sometimes manifesting as ‘survivor guilt’); aggressive behaviour; nightmares; self-destructive behaviour. This can also be true for people who may not have been at the event but witnessed it instead. It is known as Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) or Secondary Trauma. It can have similar symptoms to anxiety and depression; such as headaches and hopelessness. But, it can also have symptoms related to PTSD such as the ones above.

Ways to help improve public mental health regarding climate change

There are ways to improve our mental health when it comes to climate change. The main idea is hope, and hope that things can improve and that people are working together to find a solution. However, in our own lives and small scale, we can:

Validate your feelings - The first step towards any action is to validate your emotions in any given situation. This is also true of other people, allow yourself and other people to feel and be heard in their emotions and reactions to the Climate Crisis.

Focusing on what you can control - An important thing to do post you validate yourself or other people’s feelings, is for you to focus on what you and others can control, that being your actions. These can be ideas such as:

• Cutting down on meat consumption

• Adapting your transportation methods - cutting down on car or flight trips, and either walking, cycling, or taking public transportation instead

• Calling/Emailing/Messaging MPs or representatives to act on Climate Change

• Attending Climate Change marches

• Donating to Climate Change organisations

Talking to someone - The best way to validate and deal with emotions with subjects like this, is to talk to people about them. That can be a therapist or a friend/family member. Talking and expressing how you feel can be a great step in helping you cope with your very valid emotions about this pressing issue.

Climate Change can often feel isolating, it is important to know that there are people to support you through your feelings, whatever they may be.

Conclusion

Climate Change is one of the quickly growing issues of this decade, and it can - understandably - take a massive toll on a person’s mental health. It is important to know, however, that you are not alone, and that it is not on your shoulders to fix. Climate Change is not your fault and is something that will need to be fixed with many people coming together. You can be a part of that coming together but do remember that isn’t on your shoulders to fix. 

Written by Jamie Clarke