Introduction to Climate Change and Mental Health

Home » Planetary Health » Climate Change and Mental Health » Introduction to Climate Change and Mental Health
Headshot of Anne Grossman, MD, FACP · Assistant Professor, Medical Education and Clinical Sciences
Anne Grossman
MD, FACP · Assistant Professor, Medical Education and Clinical Sciences
envelope icon
Table of Contents
planetary-health-mental-health-displacement-image

Climate change represents one of the greatest threats to human health in the 21st century. While much attention has focused on physical health impacts such as heat-related illness, respiratory disease, and vector-borne infections, the mental health consequences of climate change are increasingly recognized as substantial and far-reaching.

Critical insight

After the physical devastation of climate disasters comes what many describe as a "second storm"—a surge of psychological trauma including PTSD, depression, and anxiety that often equals or exceeds the physical health burden.

As future physicians, you will encounter patients like Maria experiencing climate-related mental health challenges across diverse clinical settings. This module will equip you with the knowledge and skills to recognize, assess, and address these impacts while understanding their broader context within population health.

Why this matters for physicians

Those who’ve contributed least to climate change often suffer the most mentally and emotionally—this is a profound injustice.

Understanding these impacts isn’t just about clinical competence; it’s about recognizing your role as healers in addressing health equity and your unique position to advocate for vulnerable populations.

The growing recognition of climate-mental health connections

Evidence base

Multiple systematic reviews have established that climate change affects mental health through direct, indirect, and psychosocial pathways. Extreme weather events are consistently associated with increased rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety in affected populations.

 The mental health burden often equals or exceeds the physical health burden in disaster-affected communities.

[VISUAL: Insert flowchart diagram here showing:]

Climate Change → Environmental Impacts → Social/Material Impacts → Mental Health Outcomes

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

(Disasters, Heat) –(Displacement, Loss)– (Economic stress, Isolation) –(Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, cognitive impairment)

Understanding the pathways

The pathways through which climate change affects mental health are complex and multifaceted:

Acute trauma from extreme weather events:

  • Hurricanes.
  • Floods.
  • Wildfires.
  • Heat waves.
  • Economic disruption.
  • Food insecurity.
  • Displacement.
  • Job loss.
  • Loss of place attachment.
  • Community disruption.
  • Existential distress.

Strain on mental health infrastructure and services.

Case Study: Maria

Tap the arrow to view the case.
Maria is a 42-year-old woman, who survived Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas in 2019.

Maria presents to your primary care clinic with complaints of poor sleep, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. She mentions she becomes extremely anxious whenever heavy rain is forecasted. Her home was flooded, and she lost most of her possessions, though she and her family escaped physical injury.
Maria works as a restaurant server. She has been unable to return to her pre-hurricane employment due to business closures. Her family has been living in temporary housing for more than a year.
REFLECT
  1. What mental health diagnoses might you consider?
  2. What factors beyond the acute disaster event could be contributing to Maria's symptoms?

    3. We will return to Maria’s case later in the module.

Image credits

Unless otherwise noted, images are from Adobe Stock.

previous

Pleura, pleural sacs, and lungs

Next

Pleura, pleural sacs, and lungs