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Review
. 2021 Mar;8(1):1-6.
doi: 10.1007/s40572-020-00303-3. Epub 2021 Jan 2.

Climate Change and Mental Health

Susan Clayton  1
Affiliations
Review

Climate Change and Mental Health

Susan Clayton. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This essay reviews evidence for the current and potential effects of climate change on mental health.

Recent findings: A growing body of research demonstrates not only that the extreme weather events associated with a changing climate can impair mental health, in particular leading to increases in depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, but also that more gradual changes in climatic conditions, such as rising temperatures and reduced air quality, are also harmful to mental health. In addition, there is increasing evidence that a significant proportion of people might be experiencing a harmful level of anxiety associated with their perception of climate change. Mental health impacts of climate change have the potential to affect a significant proportion of the population. More research is needed to document the extent of these impacts as well as the best options for mitigating and treating them.

Keywords: Climate anxiety; Climate change; Extreme weather; Mental health; Solastalgia.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
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    1. IPCC. Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In: Core writing team, Pachauri RK, Meyer LA, editors. Geneva: IPCC; 2014. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/ . Accessed 16 Dec 2020.
    1. • Lowe SR, Bonumwezi JL, Valdespino-Hayden Z, Galea S. Post-traumatic stress and depression in the aftermath of environmental disasters: a review of quantitative studies published in 2018. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2019;6(4):344–60 A recent review of mental health consequences of environmental disasters. - DOI

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