The American Psychiatric Association notes that ecological grief and eco-anxiety arise from the sense of loss or the anxiety people feel related to climate change, including the loss of a stable future. The term “solastalgia” has been coined to describe the nostalgia we feel for a traditional way of life destroyed by environmental changes. While eco-anxiety is a normal response to the climate emergency, “it may shape views of society and the future, leading to anger, hopelessness, or paralysis, particularly in young people.” Emotional burnout and despair can plague activists when progress towards sustainability seems to fail.
Mental Health Awareness Month was launched in 1949. Over time, climate change has become a leading cause of concern globally. In 2022, WHO: World Health Organization shared a policy brief that urges countries to include mental health support in their response to the climate crisis. The brief shares some eye-opening statistics:
There are only 13 mental health workers per 100,000 people;
25% of years lived with disability are caused by mental (14.6%), neurological (7.6%) and substance use (2.7%)
disorders;1 billion is the number of people worldwide living with a mental disorder;
$1 trillion is the annual cost of common mental disorders; and
Only 2% of government health budgets are spent on mental health.
The World Health Organization policy brief recommends 5 approaches for governments to address the mental health impacts of climate change:
- Integrate climate considerations with mental health programmes;
- Integrate mental health support with climate action;
- Build upon global commitments;
- Develop community-based approaches to reduce vulnerabilities; and
- Close the large funding gap that exists for mental health and psychosocial support.
What is the definition of mental health? World Health Organization defines it as, “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” This is a laudable statement and one to which all nations should aspire.
SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recognizes that, “behavioral health issues resulting from climate-related disasters may include stress, anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and increases in both substance use and violence. Older adults, children, and individuals experiencing homelessness are more likely to be psychologically vulnerable to disasters. Populations particularly vulnerable to climate change include older adults, children, pregnant women, individuals experiencing homelessness, persons with behavioral health conditions (e.g., those taking certain psychiatric medications), people with lower incomes, individuals with limited English proficiency, migrants or refugees, communities of color, and tribes and indigenous peoples.”
We have work to do in the arena of mental health. Please make yourself aware of the resources shared in this article, and those to which we have linked below. And please consider joining Citizens’ Climate Lobby and the Austin Metro Chapter! If you get involved in our nonpartisan, forward-thinking and solution-oriented activities, you can have a positive impact and be surrounded by others who share your concerns.
Additional resources:
NAMI HelpLine | National Alliance on Mental Health
Mental Health Texas | Find a provider and more information
SAMHSA operates a Disaster Distress Helpline, and you can find it by following this link.
Carolyn M. Appleton has been a member of Citizens’ Climate Lobby since 2017, when she took over curation duties for the @cclatx Twitter feed, which is now X. She is the author of Carolyn’s Nonprofit Blog, established in 2011.
Voices of Austin @CCLATX 