Shuquan Chen, Rohini Bagrodia, Charlotte C. Pfeffer, Laura Meli, George A. Bonanno,
Anxiety and resilience in the face of natural disasters associated with climate change: A review and methodological critique, Journal of Anxiety Disorders, Volume 76, 2020, 102297, ISSN 0887-6185, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102297.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618520301110)

Georgetown University

As climate change continues to expand its role in global health policy, it must be considered how the impacts of climate change affect the mental health of people living in affected zones. Climate change will result in more adverse weather events, natural disasters, hardships for people depending on natural resources, and shifting seasonal patterns. All of these events can cause anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health problems in affected individuals.

Climate Change and Mental Health Disorders

Climate Change and Anxiety Reference

While climate change affects large portions of the global population, it is thought to cause the greatest mental disruption to communities that rely heavily on natural resources. These communities will face the largest impacts from global warming and adverse weather events, and run the risk of being unable to sustain their lifestyles. Two examples of communities at high risk from suffering mental disorders as a result of climate change are agricultural farmers and indigenous communities.

At-Risk Communities for Climate Change and Mental Health Disorders

Much of the research done on the psychological impact of natural disasters shows higher rates of psychological distress or disorders in those affected than in the general population. Research often shows those affected by climate-related natural disasters have higher rates of:
 - PTSD
 - Anxiety
 - Depression

Mental Health Outcomes Following Natural Disaster Events

Climate change has been predicted to substantially worsen over the coming decades. Temperatures can rise by up to 2-5 degrees Celsius by 2050, which would wreak havoc on global systems. Some of the ways climate change would be implicated in worsening mental health outcomes are population displacement due to regions becoming uninhabitable, worsening natural disasters, heat stress causing violence, and food scarcity.

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