Climate action plans must include mental health

By S R Ranjan: Climate change has been globally accepted as a reality and calls for a collective climate action to combat the challenges of climate crisis. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report has stated that the human-induced climate change has caused widespread adverse impacts, related loses and damages to the nature and people, beyond natural climate variability. Besides widespread pervasive impacts to ecosystem, people, settlement and infrastructure, climate change has also adversely affected physical health of the people globally and mental health of the people in assessed regions.

The IPCC report finds that climate change impacts on health are mediated through natural and human systems, including economic and social conditions and disruptions. Mental health challenges are associated with increasing temperatures, trauma from weather and climate extreme events, loss of livelihood and culture. “Mental health support must be included in national responses to climate change,” the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a policy brief at the Stockholm+50 environmental summit. “Climate change poses serious risks to people’s mental health and well-being”.

The IPCC report also revealed that rapidly increasing climate change is a rising threat to mental health and psychosocial well-being, from emotional distress to anxiety, depression, grief and suicidal behavior.  “The impacts of climate change are increasingly part of our daily lives, and there is very little dedicated mental health support available for people and communities dealing with climate-related hazards and long-term risk,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO. 

WHO said that out of 95 countries surveyed last year, only nine have included mental health and psychosocial support in their national health and climate change plans. “There are nearly one billion people living with mental health conditions, yet in low and middle-income countries, three out four do not have access to needed services,” said Devora Kestel, WHO.

WHO’s policy brief recommended important approaches for governments to address the mental health impacts of climate change. It called for governments to integrate climate considerations with mental health programmes, merge mental health support with climate action, and build upon their global commitments. “Authorities should also develop community-based approaches to reduce vulnerabilities, and close the large funding gap that currently exists for mental health and psychosocial support.” 

- Singh Rakesh Ranjan

Freelance Journalist

 (Representational images, Sources)