[Extreme weather events and their impact on the mental health of children and adolescents]

Abstract

As part of climate change, a rise in meteorological extreme weather events (EWE) like heavy precipitation and flooding can be observed in Germany. Severe extreme events can evoke great fear and pose a risk for traumatization. These traumas and the sustained stress caused by the event may result in adverse psychological health effects. Children and adolescents represent a vulnerable group due to the fact that they hold less coping strategies than adults and are strongly dependent on their environment.This narrative overview intends to summarise the prevalence of mental illness after an EWE and the related risk factors in order to draw meaningful conclusions about the mental health of children and adolescents in Germany. Therefore, existing literature from the WHO European region and from countries with a similar income level (e.g. Canada, Australia, USA) was taken into account. Since floods and heavy precipitation are the most frequent EWE in Germany, the focus was placed on them.An increase in anxiety disorders, depression symptoms, posttraumatic stress and behavioural disorders can be observed in children and adolescents after an EWE. The literature provides little information on the prevalence of such mental health effects as a result of EWEs and their effects, and which risk factors are of importance. There is thus still considerable need for research internationally and especially in Germany.

Keywords: Children and adolescents; Flood; Heavy precipitation; Mental health; Psychological health effects.