CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH

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According to the World Health Organization, one in eight people worldwide live with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depressive disorders being the most common.Climate change-related impacts may have the effect of increasing the prevalence of mental disorders.Indeed, direct and indirect impacts of climate change on people's psychological state and well-being have been reported.While direct effects include situations caused by physical causes, Indirect impacts include the negative impact on people's standard of living and infrastructure.Acute effects include trauma and shock, post-traumatic stress disorder, repressed stress, loss of identity, depression, and anxiety.Chronic impacts include aggression, violence, and negative changes in society.Direct impacts of acute weather events include increased exposure to physical danger from storms and floods and increased rates of anxiety, while direct impacts of subacute weather events include increased violence and aggression as a result of prolonged exposure to chronic stress such as extreme heat and lack of access to clean water.Increased rates of anxiety and mood disorders due to damage to homes, workplaces, and infrastructure are the indirect effects of acute weather events, and increased rates of mood disorders and suicidal tendencies due to physical health impacts and damage to livelihoods are the indirect effects of sub-acute weather events.In conclusion, climate change, in general, can cause minimal symptoms of stress and distress, anxiety, sleep disorders, substance abuse, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, violent tendencies, and suicidal thoughts.Therefore, taking preventive measures against climate change is very important to manage the process correctly and protect mental health.