Eco-anxiety and climate trauma: Understand the unseen effects of climate change
Climate change isn’t just a threat to the planet, it is endangering our mental health, too. The situation doesn’t appear promising. Compared to the last century, the number of days over 50 degrees Celsius has substantially increased and in more locations across the globe.
The climate crisis is making natural disasters such as hurricanes and flooding more likely. It has already driven millions of people out of their homes, compelling them to stay anxious almost all the time. Essentially, climate change has taken a toll on people’s fragile mental health.
Climate change and mental health: a deadly combination
1. Eco-anxiety taking the lead
‘Eco-anxiety‘ is the fear of the current or predicted effects of climate change. It is hitting youngsters especially hard. Scientific studies suggest there is real pessimism about the planet’s future among people aged 16 to 25. Scores of humans are scared and feel demotivated.
In fact, this fear of environmental doom or eco-anxiety has made several couples rethink or abandon plans to have children. Polls suggest a sizeable number of couples across the globe are not ready to have any or more children due to concerns over climate change.
2. Climate trauma in focus
There is another serious but unseen impact: climate trauma. The climate crisis is making disasters more likely – and this can cause trauma for anyone caught up in them. Imagine staying in shelters for a long period and your home getting completely destroyed.
Poorer countries have a different problem. Scores of people live in poverty, making it extremely difficult for them to adapt to environmental changes. Social conditions not only make them more vulnerable to climate change, but also put them at risk of psychological adversities.
Looking ahead …
The good thing is there are certain steps to tackle these unseen consequences. One of the most important ones of them is adopting good environmental practices and encouraging others to do the same in order to shake any feelings of helplessness.
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