Climate change and the impacts on mental wellbeing

A 2020 systematic review, published in the peer viewed journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, summarised research studies to date on the impact of climate change on mental health. The researchers looked for associations between anxiety schizophrenia, mood disorder and depression, suicide, aggressive behaviours, despair for the loss of usual landscape, and phenomena related to climate change and extreme weather. They found that direct exposure to extreme or prolonged weather events can lead to post-traumatic stress, while indirect exposure is leading to newly coined disorders such as ecoanxiety, ecoguilt, ecopsychology, ecological grief, solastalgia (defined as emotional distress caused by environmental change) and biospheric (part of the earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is capable of supporting life) concern.  

“Rising temperatures, heat waves, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, fires, loss of forest, and glaciers, along with the disappearance of rivers and desertification, can, directly and indirectly, cause human pathologies that are physical and mental” the authors state. They concluded by stating that “the consequences of exposure to extreme or prolonged weather-related events can also be delayed, encompassing disorders such as post-traumatic stress, or even transmitted to later generations”.      

Our take at StriveStronger 

Spend time chatting at any BBQ these days the conversation will undoubtedly turn towards the topics of weather, environment and how people feel about it. At StriveStronger we see our relationship with the environment as critical to our wellbeing. We define environmental as being adjusted to one's environment and deriving pleasure and stimulation from our surroundings. This can be challenging when climate change-related disasters increasingly overlap both temporally and geographically, and in recent years appear to occur with greater frequency, intensity, and duration. While the destruction of and significant changes in our environment can negatively affect our wellbeing, living in harmony with and having a greater connection to the natural world around us has an array of positive effects on our wellbeing. Research has shown that the more time we spend in nature and green spaces the higher we tend to score on measures of happiness, feeling connected and more satisfied with life. Likewise, people who live near the ocean report greater life satisfaction, better mental health and wellbeing and improved blood pressure. 

So if you find yourself longing for some nature time, give in and give yourself a natural wellbeing boost and if you find yourself getting distressed over climate issues, don’t hesitate to seek help. Holistic wellbeing is way more than physical fitness and there is growing acceptance that our relationship with nature is a significant contributor to our health and wellbeing.   

Access full study here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00074/full 

Study reference: Cianconi P, Betrò S, Janiri L. The Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health: A Systematic Descriptive Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2020;11.