Physical Wellness

Climate Change Impacts Mental Health like Depression and PTSD [VIDEO]

By Alleah Kiamco | Update Date: Mar 29, 2017 07:24 AM EDT

Scientific consensus says that climate change not only affects physical human aspects; climate change impacts mental health on those around. Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other forms of anxiety can be most likely exhibited from victims as a response to climate change's stressors.

Climate change is causing not just physical harm for U.S. citizens and those around the world- psychological harm too. The costs economically, societally and socially from these changes are massive and enormous, the Psychologists for Social Responsibility said.

The problem in climate change stems from the burning of coal, oil and other fossil fuels that are integral to men's current way of life; but the results of the abuse are greenhouse gas emissions that fuel global warming and increases environmental degradation which then contributes to floods, heat waves, droughts or heavy rains, abnormal rise of sea level, and polluted air.

James Rubin, a psychologist at King's College in London conducted a study on the flooding and health, cross-sectional analysis of mental health outcomes to victims. In his study, he made a survey of more than 8,000 people living in areas of those affected with floods to look for absolute answers and numbers for possible signs of depression and anxiety.

In the results presented in an article on the CNN, more than 20 percent of the respondents that were direct flood victims were diagnosed with depression, 36 percent with post-traumatic stress disorder and 28.3 percent with anxiety.

Those who were not directly affected by the flood or the calamity also had quite shocking numbers that were revealed. Fifteen percent had PTSD, and 10 percent were depressed.

Heat waves, flooding, droughts and climate change impacts mental health on those around and millions of people worldwide, Susan Clayton, a professor of psychology at Wooster University said. She also conducted a research and reviewed studies on the impact of changes in climate and weather of people's health, both mental and physical.

Mental health professionals are most concerned about the human suffering that will arise as climate change unfolds into devastation and health dangers for people. Organizations, both public and private, are now taking measures and quick actions to deter the results of climate change and its impacts on the mental health of Americans and those of around the world.

 

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