2025-01-29

One Mental Health: How climate change can affect the soul

# DZPG

The DZPG researches mental health in the context of the ecological crisis - Climate change leads to psychological stress. There are several reasons for this: Firstly, there is the fear of an uncertain future with considerable uncertainties, loss of prosperity and distribution struggles. Secondly, more and more people are personally affected by extreme weather events such as those in the Ahr Valley. Thirdly, environmental problems such as increasing heat and air pollution are affecting people not only physically but also emotionally. DZPG spokespersons Professor Andreas Heinz and Professor Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg name ways out: the DZPG wants to better research the interaction between the environment and mental health and develop new treatment and prevention approaches on this basis.

Research into the psychological effects of environmental problems is far from starting from scratch. We know that “natural disasters are associated with an increase in depression, anxiety and trauma-related disorders,” says DZPG spokesperson Meyer-Lindenberg. This increase can be observed above all in areas where many people are directly affected by a disaster such as flooding, such as recently in the Ahr valley, Saarland or Bavaria, but also beyond. This has been well researched in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, for example.

In addition to trauma-related disorders, there are indirect consequences of climate change such as food shortages, economic crises, violent conflicts and involuntary migration. These are also psychological risk and stress factors that can lead to uncertainty and anxiety before they occur and to trauma afterwards.

Global warming, plastic, overfishing: retreating from the mass of problems is becoming more difficult

In addition to these two factors, the consequences of the current ecological crisis are compounded by grief over the loss of an intact environment (“solastalgia”) and fear of an uncertain future, also known as “climate anxiety”. DZPG spokesperson Andreas Heinz explains: “Humanity is not only faced with the problem of global warming and its consequences. There is also the loss of biodiversity, the plastic crisis in the oceans, overfishing, over-fertilization of the soil and the poor condition of the forests. No matter where we look: They see the destruction of habitats that in the past could offer carefree experiences of nature. This makes it difficult to relax and puts a strain on the soul, and this is where we at the DZPG must continue our research: What increases resilience? Who is particularly at risk?” Without prevention and effective tools against the psychological consequences of environmental degradation, there is a risk of considerable economic damage due to mental illness.

There are also still questions regarding care. “Even if symptoms such as anxiety disorders are often easily treatable: The basic problem, the state of the environment, is not a traumatic experience in the past, but a rational concern,” explains Andreas Heinz. Because unlike a violent childhood, for example, which those affected can leave behind, the destruction of the environment does not stop; spatial or temporal distance are not available as therapeutic aids.

Ecological handprint can increase resilience

However, you are not at the mercy of your feelings even today, says Meyer-Lindenberg. One way can be to increase your own “ecological handprint” and become aware of your scope for action. “Meaningful work or voluntary work that counteracts the environmental crisis and a way of life that doesn't ignore the problems of the present can be an effective step against despair.” Although the environmental crisis cannot be solved single-handedly, trying to counteract the environmental crisis with your own behavior and energy can increase your own mental resilience.

One Mental Health Hub

The WHO's One Health approach examines the connections between humans, animals, plants and their shared environment. While this currently focuses on physical health, the DZPG is extending this concept to mental health and will conduct better research into the interaction with the environment and develop new treatment and prevention approaches on this basis. The linchpin of the research activities is the One Mental Health Hub, which is scheduled to be founded in 2025.

Source: DZPG

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