How does climate change affect your mental health?

Climate change is the change in weather patterns due to the increase of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. This environmental and social problem goes way beyond just air, water or soil pollution, it goes to the point where it directly affects us humans, impacting the way we feel and act.

Climate change can lead to economic uncertainty, job insecurity and can often deprive people from enjoying outdoors activities. Moreover, it causes sea level rise, which can destroy a person's property and other important infrastructures such as schools or hospitals. For some people it is crucial to be in contact with nature since it can bring peace and comfort, so not being able to be outdoors as well as being constantly worried about these situations can cause anxiety and depression, according to a study carried out in Greenland.

In 2003 Glenn Albrecht, an Australian philosopher, coined the term 'solastalgia' which refers to the anguish or emerging form of depression caused by environmental alterations due to droughts, destructive mining and extreme weather conditions. Besides, the term 'ecological grief' describes the emotional response to environmental losses such the disappearance of flora and fauna, cropland and animal extinction, specially experienced by the people who retain close relationships with nature, namely farmers, foresters or indigenous people, even though any person can experience it.

Mental health is something every person should considere a priority in their lives. It is such an important issue we all must be paying attention to, since it is the key of a happy and successful life. If your mental health is not being taken care of, you won't be able to grow personally, socially, intellectually nor professionally. That's why, it is crucial to start taking concrete actions that will make a change in the world. Remember that taking care of the planet is taking care of ourselves. It's not too late!

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References

Caring for the environment helps to care for your mental health. (2019). UNEP. Retrieved from https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/caring-environment-helps-care-your-mental-health

Grose, A. (2019). How the climate emergency can lead to a mental health crisis. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/13/climate-crisis-mental-health-environmental-anguish

Vanbuskirk, S. (2021). What is Solastalgia?. Verywellmind. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/solastalgia-definition-symptoms-traits-causes-treatment-5089413

Comtesse, H., Ertl, V., Hengst, S., Rosner, R. & Smid, G. (2021), Ecological Grief as a Response to Environmental Change: A Mental Health Risk or Functional Response?. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7830022/

What is Climate Change?. (2022). United Nations. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change

What Is Climate Change?. (2014). NASA. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-climate-change-k4.html