Climate Change and Mental Health

Question 1

in the Mental Health Continuum Model, what is mental health?

Answer 1

• overall psychological well-being
• involves how people think, feel, and behave in daily life
• high mental health = positive, functioning well
• low mental health = struggling with emotions, thoughts, or behaviors

Question 2

in the Mental Health Continuum Model, what is mental illness?

Answer 2

• refers to diagnosable mental health conditions that affect a person’s thinking, emotions, and behavior
• can vary in severity (from mild to severe) and duration (short-term to chronic)
• having a mental illness does not mean a person cannot have good mental health; they can still function well with the right treatment and support

Question 3

what is a wicked problem?

Answer 3

• a complex, multifaceted issue that is difficult or impossible to solve due to…
  
  1. complexity and interconnectedness
  2. no clear solutions
  3. evolve over time
  4. involve multiple perspectives

Question 4

how do social determinants of health impact how a person experiences a wicked problem?

Answer 4

• social determinants of health affect an individual’s mental and physical well-being
  
  • can impact how people experience wicked problems like mental health or climate change
• we need to consider multiple aspects of a person’s life in order to address wicked problems
  
  • access to healthcare, stable housing, and education.
  • poor housing or limited social support can worsen mental health outcomes or increase vulnerability to climate-related stress

Question 5

what are some direct effects of climate change on mental health?

Answer 5

Direct effects are the immediate, observable consequences of climate change
- trauma from natural disasters
- heat-related aggression
- loss of life or property
- displacement and migration

Question 6

what are some indirect effects of climate change on mental health?

Answer 6

Indirect effects are long-term consequences that arise from broader societal changes caused by climate change
- economic stress
- food and water insecurity
- chronic environmental stress (eco-anxiety)
- social and community disruption
- climate-related health conditions

Question 7

what are psychoterratic syndromes?

Answer 7

• mental health conditions that arise from the human relationship with the environment
  
  • particularly due to environmental degradation and climate change
• syndromes reflect the psychological impacts of ecological loss or damage

Question 8

what is eco-anxiety?

Answer 8

ecoanxiety - chronic fear or worry about the environmental crisis and its future impacts.

Question 9

what is eco-paralysis?

Answer 9

ecoparalysis - feeling of being overwhelmed or helpless in the face of environmental destruction, leading to inaction

Question 10

what is ecological grief?

Answer 10

ecological grief - grief or mourning related to the loss of ecosystems, species, or natural environments

Question 11

what is solastalgia?

Answer 11

solastalgia - distress caused by environmental changes that negatively affect a person’s home environment (deforestation, climate change)

Question 12

what are some solutions to the mental health impacts of climate change at the individual (micro) level?

Answer 12

• limit doomscrolling; focus on hopeful climate stories and solutions
• take guilt-free breaks and embrace self-care
• spend time in nature
• connect with groups or actions supporting climate, sustainability, or public health issues
• talk about complex climate emotions with trusted friends
• use art to process climate-related feelings

Question 13

what are some solutions to the mental health impacts of climate change at the community (meso) level?

Answer 13

• share coping strategies and resources to advance climate action, equity, and justice
• discuss the mental, physical, social, and economic impacts of climate change
• build mutual aid networks focused on trust, care, equity, and human dignity
• support and amplify Indigenous leadership on climate and environmental issues.
• join climate movements working toward justice, sustainability, divestment, and community resilience

Question 14

what are some solutions to the mental health impacts of climate change at the systems (macro) level?

Answer 14

• call on governments to prioritize climate action policies
• focus on reducing community inequality to lower climate risks
• vote for leaders committed to bold and just climate action
• advocate for complete fossil fuel divestment
• support Indigenous-led initiatives to decolonize systems.
• find creative ways to transition communities off fossil fuel dependence