Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change: Perspectives for the ED Clinician

• Published in: Journal of emergency nursing Vol. 46; no. 5; pp. 590 - 599
• Main Authors: Nicholas, Patrice K., Breakey, Suellen, White, Bradley P., Brown, Margaret J., Fanuele, Jenny, Starodub, Roksolana, Ros, Ana Viamonte
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Elsevier Inc 01.09.2020; Elsevier Limited; Emergency Nurses Association. Published by Elsevier Inc
• Subjects: Air quality; Allergies; Change agents; Chronic respiratory diseases; Climate change; Contaminated water; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Disability; Emergency medical care; Emissions; Extremes; Global warming; Greenhouse effect; Health status; Healthy food; Heat stress; Immigrants; Indigenous peoples; Infectious diseases; Insecurity; Interdisciplinary aspects; Low income groups; Mental health; Mothers; Older people; Pandemics; Post traumatic stress disorder; Socioeconomic status; Weather
• ISSN: 0099-1767; 1527-2966
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2020.05.014

Rising temperatures, precipitation extremes, extreme weather events, and sea-level rise have led to increases in exposures to extreme heat events, poor air quality, reduced food and water quality, changes in infectious agents, and population displacement.2,4,5 These effects have also led to an increase in heat-related and cardiopulmonary illnesses, food-, water-, and vector-borne diseases, and mental health impacts.6 The deleterious health effects of climate change are not distributed evenly; in fact, those who contribute the least to greenhouse gas emissions are disproportionately affected—a concept known as climate (in)justice.7,8 The vulnerable groups include those living in low- or middle-income countries, as well as communities of certain colors, immigrant groups, indigenous peoples, children and pregnant women, older adults, people with pre-existing medical or psychiatric illness, certain occupational groups, people with disability, and those with low socioeconomic status.9 These vulnerable groups are at significant risk of health consequences in our world with a changing climate. [...]an overview of the mental health impacts related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are also provided. Recent reports in the medical and interprofessional literature regarding the association between physical health and climate change urge that clinicians become educated about the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on climate and health.2,3 Important advances in the scientific underpinnings of the impact of climate on health have emerged in recent literature with urgent warnings about current and emerging health impacts.1,12,13 The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5°C [2.7°F]: Summary for Policymakers14 and previous Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports2,4,5,15 strongly suggest that major pathways exist by which climate harms health through direct effects (eg, increased exposure to high ambient temperatures); respiratory air pollutants; infectious diseases (vector- and water-borne); respiratory disorders, including allergies such as pollen allergy; and food and water insecurity. The projected labor cost impact of climate-related ambient heat stress is estimated in trillions of dollars globally25—affecting developed as well as developing, fragile economies. [...]it is critical for ED clinicians to address, engage, assess, and treat the emerging dangers for patients related to occupational heat exposure and associated mental health consequences.Background of Mental Health Impact of Climate Change Weather and climate have long been known to have an impact on the mood of individuals, as in seasonal affective disorder.26 It is also well established that individuals and groups living in regions that experience more severe weather are more likely to experience subsequent symptoms consistent with mood and affective disorders.17,27,28 Emerging evidence suggests that there are multiple mental health effects of climate change and climate-related events.11 These impacts can be categorized as acute and chronic mental health impacts related to climate change because of direct or indirect consequences.