Mental health issues from climate change, like anxiety and stress, are likely to increase according to a study published in February. In a 2020 survey, the majority of Americans included in the study feel anxiety about the impact of climate change on their mental health, and two-thirds worry about the effects on the planet.
In a survey published in The Lancet, 75% of people aged 16 to 25 from 10 countries were frightened of the future, more than half feel that humanity is doomed, and many feel angry but helpless. This is causing 40% of respondents to feel hesitation in taking major life decisions such as having children. Another tangible finding is that Black and Latino communities, as well as Indigenous nations, are disproportionately experiencing the physical effects within their lives and livelihoods.
This article captures the impacts of climate change on the mental health and well-being of various communities such as paramedics who have to respond to the increasing burden on healthcare, farmers and ranchers feeling the strain of changing precipitation cycles, the anxiety of the next generation of young people, and the threat of tribal economies and cultures.
Read the article about climate change on mental health here