Mental Health and Climate Change

Did you know there is a relation between Mental Health and Climate Change?

The reply is, simply, yes. And that’s one of the reasons why the European Union is calling for a comprehensive approach to mental health, in all policies. This is what resulted not only during the last thematic network on mental health organised by DG SANTE, since it is a need that was already announced a few months ago by EC President Ursula von der Leyen: «We should take better care of each other. And for many who feel anxious and lost, appropriate, accessible and affordable support can make all the difference».

We do not need to remind, after all, that Covid-19 pandemic, Ukrainian and Russian situation and last but not least rising living costs have increased the risk of development of various mental health conditions. Not surprisingly, one in two young Europeans report unmet needs for mental health care: here comes the need for a comprehensive approach.

What comprehensive means, then?

The key objectives, as reported by the commissioners, are so far: increase the EU support in a coordinated way, focus on major public health burden areas, target national needs in key diseases areas and reduce health inequalities.

What was underlined during the DG SANTE meeting, in particular talking about inequalities, is that There is a need to collect and share information and experiences, best practices in all policies also including environmental and climate determinants. That is why, as they said, «this thematic network comes very timely». As stated by Claudia Marinetti, director of Mental Health Europe, there is as well the need to reinforce the cooperation between civil society organizations that work on socio economic and environmental practices and policies. This is, in our opinion, where we can see a liaison with the Fund for Regional Cooperation.

Concerning the specific link with Climate Change, its effects on Mental Health can be direct or indirect, but what is certain is that in the last 5 decades between 1970 and 2020, climate-related hazards have increased, and imagine that nearly 5 billion of people in total are affected. These are global numbers but in Europe, numbers and statistic are not different: a lot of people are affected by mental health issues (depression, anxiety, challenges also for mental health workers). This means, in other words, that we are all concerned. The European Region has better conditions, apparently, but still there is a lot of work to do. Indeed, as specified by WHO, in addition, there are also gaps in understanding the impacts of climate change on mental health and psychological well-being, but current knowledge is sufficient to act. Since Mental Health conditions already represent a significant burden worldwide, and interlinkages – therefore the determinants – are many.

Have you ever thought, for example, about how could air quality, water quality, food security, ecosystem changes influence our life? Maybe we do not see now, at the surfaces, the impacts. But as we always say, better to act now.

To use an example given by WHO, considering air pollution: during periods of high temperatures, it can cause respiratory diseases that increase demand for health care services, reduce mobility and the capacity to work, and – with time – it can lead to mental health consequences.

Climate change may also lead to increased conflict, or aggravated conflict dynamics, particularly in regions dependent on agriculture, and to forced migration for some and forced immobility in challenging environments for others. Certain groups, in addition, could be disproportionately at risk due to climate change, depending on existing vulnerabilities and inequalities. We can think about certain communities in low and middle-income countries, to indigenous people or, especially, children and adolescents. With just some examples, do you see the interlinkages with the issues we are used to face?

There are, then, some concepts that we need to respond to: sadness, fear, despair, grief, helplessness. And, considering our topic, climate change anxiety, ecoanxiety, environmental distress, climate-related psychological distress. We cannot ignore them anymore. In other words, there is an increased need to include those issues in all policies and programmes, building upon a global commitment, in order to implement multisectoral and community-based approaches.

We are convinced that the Fund for Regional Cooperation can be an important source, a basis from which to start for new ideas and reflections. Hoping to have turned on your bulbs, we invite you to follow the official website in view of the next network meetings.

Francesca Bombarda Fund Operator – Communication