Climate change is likely to have a significant impact on our mental health. Researchers even claim to have found a direct link between rising temperatures and psychiatric disorders. According to them, the number of suicides is also increasing significantly.
Social and economic factors have a direct influence on our psychological well-being. According to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), these risk factors currently appear to be worsening due to climate change.
“Current data show a direct link between suicidality and temperature increases. Even an increase of one degree correlates with a significant increase in suicidal behavior,” says Margit Wrobel, psychiatrist and opening speaker at this year’s congress of the Austrian Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (ÖGPP).
Increase in aggressiveness and alcohol abuse
The heat waves that have occurred in recent years also have an impact on mental health. Based on survey data, it was said that during the heat periods there is an increasing number of visits to psychiatric institutions or inpatient admissions.
The increase in ambient temperature now observed appears to affect mental health through several mechanisms. Social consequences as a result of climate change are also relevant. Increasing aggressiveness or increased alcohol consumption has been reported as a result of economic stressors.
Protect vulnerable groups
“Not only do we need a health policy framework that directly takes into account the effects of climate change on our mental health, but above all we also need to actively protect particularly vulnerable groups in our society,” warns Martin Aigner, president of the ÖGPP.
Source: Krone
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