scholarly journals Are climate change and mental health correlated?

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. e100648
Author(s):  
Abdullah Mohammed Hassan Ramadan ◽  
Ahmed G Ataallah
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Forced Migration ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Climate Crisis

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time and is likely to affect human beings in substantial ways. Recently, researchers started paying more attention to the changes in climate and their subsequent impact on the social, environmental and economic determinants of health, and the role they play in causing or exacerbating mental health problems. The effects of climate change-related events on mental well-being could be classified into direct and indirect effects. The direct effects of climate change mostly occur after acute weather events and include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, substance abuse disorder, depression and even suicidal ideation. The indirect effects include economic losses, displacement and forced migration, competition over scarce resources and collective violence. The risk factors for developing those mental health issues include young age, female gender, low socioeconomic status, loss or injury of a loved one, being a member of immigrant groups or indigenous people, pre-existing mental illness and inadequate social support. However, in some individuals, especially those undisturbed by any directly observable effects of climate change, abstract awareness and acknowledgement of the ongoing climate crisis can induce negative emotions that can be intense enough to cause mental health illness. Coping strategies should be provided to the affected communities to protect their mental health from collapse in the face of climate disasters. Awareness of the mental health impacts of climate change should be raised, especially in the high-risk groups. Social and global attention to the climate crisis and its detrimental effects on mental health are crucial.This paper was written with the aim of trying to understand the currently, scientifically proven impact of climate change-related disasters on mental health and understanding the different methods of solving the problem at the corporate level, by trying to decrease greenhouse gas emissions to zero, and at the individual level by learning how to cope with the impacts of those disasters.

Psychiatric morbidity in December 2015 flood-affected population in Tamil Nadu, India

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 338-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shailaja Bandla ◽  
NR Nappinnai ◽  
Srinivasagopalan Gopalasamy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Health Organization

Background: Floods are the most common type of natural disaster, which have a negative impact on mental health. Following floods, survivors are vulnerable to develop PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. Aim: The aim is to study the psychiatric morbidity in the persons affected by floods during December 2015. Materials and methods: This study was carried out in Chennai and Cuddalore. In total, 223 persons who were directly exposed to floods were assessed. PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version, Beck’s Depression Inventory, Beck’s Anxiety Inventory and World Health Organization–Five Well-Being Scale (WHO-5) were used in the study. Chi-square test was used to compare the means. Results: Overall, psychiatric morbidity was found to be 45.29%; 60 (26.9%) persons had symptoms of PTSD. Anxiety was found in 48 (27.4%) and depression was found in 101 (45.29%) persons; and 11 (4.9%) persons have reported an increase in substance abuse. Conclusion: Following disaster like floods, there is a need for better preparedness in terms of basic necessities and medical and psychological assistance, particularly emphasizing the needs of older persons in order to prevent the development of psychiatric problems.

scholarly journals Strategies for Delivering Mental Health Services in Response to Global Climate Change: A Narrative Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (22) ◽  
pp. 8562
Author(s):  
Lawrence A. Palinkas ◽  
Meaghan L. O’Donnell ◽  
Winnie Lau ◽  
Marleen Wong
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Civil Conflict ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Extreme Weather Events

This narrative review examined strategies for preparedness and response to mental health impacts of three forms of climate change from a services perspective: (1) acute and extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, (2) sub-acute or long-term events such as droughts and heatwaves; and (3) the prospect of long-term and permanent changes, including higher temperatures, rising sea levels, and an uninhabitable physical environment. Strategies for acute events included development and implementation of programs and practices for monitoring and treating mental health problems and strengthening individual and community resilience, training of community health workers to deliver services, and conducting inventories of available resources and assessments of at-risk populations. Additional strategies for sub-acute changes included advocacy for mitigation policies and programs and adaptation of guidelines and interventions to address the secondary impacts of sub-acute events, such as threats to livelihood, health and well-being, population displacement, environmental degradation, and civil conflict. Strategies for long-lasting changes included the implementation of evidence-based risk communication interventions that address the existing and potential threat of climate change, promoting the mental health benefits of environmental conservation, and promoting psychological growth and resilience.

scholarly journals REVIEW ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS EFFECTS ON HEALTH

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (19) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress

In the twenty-first century, climate change is one of the most important problems threatening human health and life. The changes in the climate significantly affect not only physical health but also psychological health. Extreme weather events and natural disasters that occur as a result of climate change cause direct effects such as acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. This study addresses the direct and indirect effects of climate change on health, both physically and on the mental health and mental health and public health in Turkey aimed at drawing attention to the subject of researchers working. As a result of the review, it was determined that changing climates have three main effects on the individual: i) long-term stress and psychological distress, ii) aggression and violence, iii) ecological mourning. It was also observed that there is not enough study about the effects of climate change. It has been pointed out that studies should be carried out for custom observed climate changes to Turkey's geography and understand the effects it brings and ensuring the adaptation to these changes of the individuals and recommendations have been made in this regard. Keywords: Global warming, public health, psychological health, climate change, psychological well-being, psychological distress

scholarly journals Climate Crisis, Legal Education and Law Student Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Legal Education ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Law Schools ◽  
Pedagogical Strategies ◽  
Law Student ◽  
Climate Crisis ◽  
The Impact

This article addresses the impact of the climate crisis on the mental health of young people in the context of legal education. It reviews the evidence on youth mental health regarding the climate crisis and applies it to what is already known about law student well-being. Drawing on theories of learning design, the article considers a range of pedagogical strategies that law schools can use to engage students who are committed to action on climate change through law. A case study, the Climate Justice Initiative at The University of Queensland School of Law, is presented as one example of what is possible. This article emphasises the significance of a partnership approach to student engagement and contends that this may yield benefits especially in the context of climate change-related legal work. Despite the negative psychological impact of the climate crisis on law students, it concludes that there are practical activities that law schools can and should initiate to support student well-being. 

Editorial Comments—Mental Health Problems following Earthquake in Kashmir: Findings of Community Run Clinics

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 546-546
Author(s):  
Carol Amaratunga
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Political Conflict ◽  
Disaster Medicine ◽  
Stress Reactions ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress

The article by Chadda et al is particularly deserving in that it describes a universal, social imperative to address the mental health and well-being of affected populations following a horrendous disaster caused by natural hazards. The inclusion of mental health workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists in postdisaster recovery and response efforts is not always feasible, but in recent years the importance of recognizing these professionals as “front line responders” has been gaining currency. By addressing the extent and typology of mental health needs of survivor populations (e.g., adjustment disorders, depression, and stress reactions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms), the business of recovery and reconstruction can begin. This paper sufficiently captures the extent of psychiatric morbidity in the affected Kashmiri populations following the October 2005 earthquake in India.The authors visited >30 rural and remote sites and met with >300 survivors who had lost their homes, loved ones, and who also had suffered physical injury and mental health trauma. It is a remarkable testament to human resiliency that the vast majority of the earthquake survivors described in this paper, including those who live in an ongoing state of civil unrest due to political conflict, did not present full PTSD mental health disorders. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine deserves praise for supporting the work of our colleagues in the south. Thanks to the WADEM for the inclusion of this empirically based study, as it contributes to our understanding of human resiliency following disasters caused by natural hazards in a meaningful way.

Criminal Orders of Protection for Domestic Violence: Associated Revictimization, Mental Health, and Well-being Among Victims

2019 ◽  
pp. 088626051988386
Author(s):  
Tami P. Sullivan ◽  
Nicole H. Weiss ◽  
Jacqueline Woerner ◽  
Janan Wyatt ◽  
Camille Carey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Depression Symptom ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Criminal Protection ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

All states issue criminal protection orders (POs) with the intention of improving the lives of victims of domestic violence (DV); however, there is a dearth of research examining their impact. This study aims to examine the impact of criminal POs with different levels of restrictions on victims’ revictimization, mental health, and well-being. A cross-sectional design was used to collect data regarding two time points during one interview among a sample of 298 victims in a criminal DV case. Across the three levels of PO restrictions (limited, residential stay-away, and full no-contact), participants reported significantly reduced physical, sexual, and psychological DV; unwanted pursuit behavior; post-traumatic stress and depression symptom severity; and perceived stress and fear of revictimization. The amount of change varied between groups for revictimization variables. Full no-contact restrictions were associated with the greatest decreases in revictimization. However, findings must be interpreted with caution given the heterogeneity in victims’ experiences; some victims experienced an increase in revictimization and mental health problems and a decrease in well-being. Findings suggest that the court, through criminal POs, may be a system through which to reach victims who might not otherwise connect with services to promote safety and resilience.

scholarly journals Silver linings: how mental health activists can help us navigate wicked problems

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Neil Armstrong ◽  
Keira Pratt-Boyden
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Wicked Problems ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Climate Crisis

Summary This article explores how ‘wicked problems’ such as climate change might force psychiatry to rethink some of its fundamental ideas and ways of working, including clinical boundaries, understandings of psychopathology and ways of organising. We use ethnographic evidence to explore how mental health service ‘survivor’ activists are already rethinking some of these issues by therapeutically orienting themselves towards social problems and collective understandings of well-being, rejecting ‘treatment as usual’ approaches to distress. In this way we provide an example of the potential of activists to help psychiatry negotiate the climate crisis.

scholarly journals Understanding the resilience and mental health impacts of natural disasters in India: A narrative review

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sangram Kishor Patel ◽  
Gopal Agrawal ◽  
Bincy Mathew
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Physical Damage

The purpose of this study is to understand the linkages between natural disasters and their impact on the mental health of people as well as associated resilience mechanisms in India. Natural disasters affect not only the physical environment but also the economy, social life, and well-being of the population. In addition to the loss of precious lives and economic losses, disasters affect the natural growth and mental health of the affected populations to a great extent. It is extremely challenging to quantify the true scale of damage caused by a disaster because physical damage is visible, but hidden impacts could be much more severe and have catastrophic effects on the socioeconomic growth of the affected families and areas. Against this background and with the limited available evidence, this study has tried to understand how disasters lead to poor mental health among the affected populations around the globe and tried to conceptualize this in the Indian context. Our review documents the different pathways for disasters to adversely affect mental health, particularly among vulnerable populations. The review also highlights how an increased frequency of disasters with climate change can lead to a post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and depression. Changes in climate and global warming may require populations to migrate, which can lead to acculturation stress. It can also lead to increased rates of physical illnesses, which secondarily would be associated with psychological distress. This research is an initial step in bringing this important issue forward in the context of Sustainable Development Goals and outlining that better policies need to be designed for prevention, services, and psychological counseling of mental health problems due to disasters. This study also suggests for more longitudinal research to understand the development of disaster-related mental health problems and to develop adequate mitigation strategies.

Psychological/psychiatric impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak: lessons learnt from China and call for timely crisis interventions in Italy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrizia Zeppegno ◽  
Carla Gramaglia ◽  
Chiara Guerriero ◽  
Fabio Madeddu ◽  
Raffaella Calati
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress

Background: The World Health Organization declared the Corona Virus Disease 19 (Covid-19) a pandemic in March 2020. Psychological impact of Covid-19 can be consisent and should be prevented with adequate measures. Methods: We performed a literature mini review searching for studies in PubMed focusing on the psychological/psychiatric impact of Covid-19.Results: The selection process yielded 34 papers focusing on the relation between Covid-19 and mental health: 9 correspondence, 8 letters to the editor, 7 commentaries, 3 editorials, 4 original studies, 2 brief reports, and 1 a rapid review. The majority of the articles were performed in China. They focused on the general population and particular categories considered more fragile, e.g., psychiatric patients, older adults, international migrant workers, homeless people. Authors are unanimous in believing that Covid-19 will likely increase the risk of mental health problems and worsen existing psychiatric disorders/symptoms in patients, exposed subjects, and staff. Together with the negative emotionality related to the unpredictability of the situation, uncertainty concerning the risk, excessive fear, fear of death, loneliness, guilt, stigma, denial, anger, frustration, boredome, some symptoms might appear such as insomnia until patophobia (specifically, coronaphobia), depressive and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal risk.Limitations: Literature is rapidly increasing and present results are only partial. Conclusions: Mental health care should not be overlooked in this moment. The experience of China should be of help for all the countries facing with Covid-19, among them Italy.

scholarly journals Supporting the emotional needs of young people in care: a qualitative study of foster carer perspectives

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e033317
Author(s):  
Rachel M Hiller ◽  
Sarah L Halligan ◽  
Richard Meiser-Stedman ◽  
Elizabeth Elliott ◽  
Emily Rutter-Eley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Depth Information ◽  
Emotional Needs ◽  
Mental Health Systems ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Qualitative Focus Groups

ObjectivesYoung people who have been removed from their family home and placed in care have often experienced maltreatment and there is well-developed evidence of poor psychological outcomes. Once in care, foster carers often become the adult who provides day-to-day support, yet we know little about how they provide this support or the challenges to and facilitators of promoting better quality carer–child relationships. The aim of this study was to understand how carers support the emotional needs of the young people in their care and their views on barriers and opportunities for support.Design and participantsParticipants were 21 UK foster carers, recruited from a local authority in England. They were predominantly female (86%), aged 42–65 years old and ranged from those who were relatively new to the profession (<12 months’ experience) to those with over 30 years of experience as a carer. We ran three qualitative focus groups to gather in-depth information about their views on supporting their foster children’s emotional well-being. Participants also completed short questionnaires about their training experiences and sense of competence.ResultsOnly half of the sample strongly endorsed feeling competent in managing the emotional needs of their foster children. While all had completed extensive training, especially on attachment, diagnosis-specific training for mental health problems (eg, trauma-related distress, depression) was less common. Thematic analysis showed consistent themes around the significant barriers carers faced navigating social care and mental health systems, and mixed views around the best way to support young people, particularly those with complex mental health needs and in relation to reminders of their early experiences.ConclusionsFindings have important implications for practice and policy around carer training and support, as well as for how services support the mental health needs of young people in care.

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