Scientists believe climate change is negatively affecting mental health, which diminishes physical well-being. They call it “ecological grief,” which Wired describes as “the mourning of ecosystems and species and ways of life that are disappearing as the planet warms.”
Not only do natural disasters displace large populations of people, potentially putting them at risk of disease exposure, but studies also show depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and domestic abuse tend to increase after natural disasters. Extremely hot weather puts people at risk of heat exhaustion and can exacerbate underlying health issues like stroke and kidney failure. Studies have also linked increasing temperatures to increasing suicide rates, according to the report.
The close link between mental and physical health can compound these issues as climate change progresses. Different regions and cultures have different relationships with their environments, which will also require healthcare responses vary, according to the report.
Read more here.
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