Citation

Fritze JC, Blashki GA, Burke S, Wiseman J. Int. J. Ment. Health Syst. 2008; 2.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/1752-4458-2-13

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This article aims to provide an introduction to emerging evidence and debate about the relationship between climate change and mental health.

DISCUSSION and Conclusion: The authors argue that: i) the direct impacts of climate change such as extreme weather events will have significant mental health implications; ii) climate change is already impacting on the social, economic and environmental determinants of mental health with the most severe consequences being felt by disadvantaged communities and populations; iii) understanding the full extent of the long term social and environmental challenges posed by climate change has the potential to create emotional distress and anxiety; and iv) understanding the psycho-social implications of climate change is also an important starting point for informed action to prevent dangerous climate change at individual, community and societal levels. © 2008 Blashki et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

human; violence; disaster; prevalence; climate change; anxiety; suicide attempt; risk assessment; hope; disease severity; posttraumatic stress disorder; risk factor; hopelessness; article; mental disease; clinical practice; mental health care; disease predisposition; socioeconomics; distress syndrome; health care policy; community care; population research; priority journal; social aspect; environmental factor; coping behavior; public health service; medical research; psychosocial care; health promotion; social behavior; cultural anthropology; health care planning; world health organization; health care need; health care system; greenhouse effect; psychological well being; physical capacity; correlational study; environmental impact