2023-10-11 12:40:23
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – A new report issued by the American Psychiatric Association says that climate change may play a major role in affecting young people’s mental health.
Written in collaboration with climate advocacy organization ecoAmerica, the report documents how environmental events linked to climate change, including weather disasters, extreme heat, and poor air quality, can trigger or exacerbate mental health problems in children and adolescents.
The report stated that natural disasters may cause post-traumatic stress disorder among these groups, while long-term problems such as heat, drought, and poor air quality may increase the risks of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, aggressive behavior, cognitive impairment, and other conditions.
The report, issued on Wednesday, is considered a continuation of a study conducted in 2021, conducted by the American Psychiatric Association and “ecoAmerica.”
It is the latest in a series of studies conducted by the two organizations since 2014.
The studies do not include new experiments, but rather summarize current research on climate change, mental health, and youth development.
Problems start before birth
According to Dr. Sue Clayton, a professor of psychology at the University of Worcester and lead author of the report, weather events linked to climate change make children more vulnerable to mental health consequences because they do not have the coping strategies that adults do.
If a parent is stressed by the challenges associated with an environmental event, such as extreme heat or wildfires, this may affect their children’s mental health as well.
The report stated that mental health consequences begin even before the child is born.
Exposure to weather disasters, high temperatures, air pollution, and maternal anxiety before birth can increase the child’s risk for a variety of behavioral and developmental problems, including anxiety, depression, hyperactivity disorder, attention deficit disorder, delayed growth, and a low level of… Self-control and psychological disorders.
Clayton noted that the consequences may affect the development of the nervous system, and are often not treatable.
“How do you plan for the future?”
The report indicated that teenagers and young people are particularly concerned regarding climate change.
Young people are more likely to be concerned regarding the perceived failure of governments, or those in power, to act on climate change than their older counterparts.
According to the report, events related to climate change and the distress that individuals feel regarding this issue are linked to the risks of anxiety, depression, strained social relationships, and suicide.
“They’re worried regarding it because they know it’s going to affect their future,” Clayton said. “How do you plan for the future when you don’t know what it’s going to look like?”
The researchers pointed out that not all young people are experiencing the effects of climate change on mental health in the same way.
People from marginalized or low-income backgrounds, including indigenous communities, communities of color, women, and people with disabilities, are more vulnerable to extreme weather.
Compared to people living in wealthier areas, people from marginalized or low-income backgrounds may have fewer ways to cope with extreme weather.
For example, Clayton explained, higher-income communities tend to have more tree cover to protect once morest heat.
However, the report also emphasized ways to reduce the impact of climate change on young people’s mental health.
Its recommendations included school systems playing a greater role in matters such as designing more protective facilities and curricula on climate change.
Health care professionals can also conduct early and regular screenings for climate-related disorders among young people.
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