The massive consequences of climate change for mental health are well documented (e.g. AR6 WGII, Chap. 7, p. 1076ff., Watts et al. 2015, Walinski et al. 2023). These will continue in the near and distant future. However, the consequences are hard to impossible to quantify (AR6, WGII, Chap. 7, p. 1089ff.). How can the future impact of the climate crisis on mental health be quantified for adaptation and mitigation measures succeedfull?
Reference:
Walinski et al. 2023 (https://www.aerzteblatt.de/int/archive/article/229918)
AR6 WGII Chap. 7 (https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/chapter/chapter-7/)
Watts et al. 2015 (https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60854-6)
First, we ought to be cautious about jumping to correlation-causation conclusions without defensible evidence:
-Paper https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01448-3
-Popular science summary https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/disaster-choice/202111/will-climate-change-increase-suicide-rates
Second, the unscientific doom-and-gloom about climate change appears to be leading to or exacerbating mental health problems. Instead, we need to be realistic and offer ways forward:
1. Eco-Inspiration https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/disaster-choice/202110/how-reduce-eco-anxiety-and-make-positive-change
2. Overcoming doomerism
https://medium.com/disruptive-voices/against-climate-doomerism-48aa32b89041
4. "Beyond Climate Grief"
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/disaster-by-choice/202308/beyond-climate-grief
Are you taking about pathway:
a) climate change -> some unspecified extreme weather events -> mental illness
OR
b) climate change -> repeatedly telling people that they are going to die horribly due to 2-3C increase -> mental illness
?
(I suspect that the second pathway may be easier to demonstrate)
Thanks for The answer!
I think booth ways explains how to Effect the climate crise mental health (e.g. 10.25646/11650).
Greetings
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