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Expected health impacts of climate change in Aotearoa New Zealand
Part 5: Mental Health
Aotearoa New Zealand is a country that ranges across latitude zones, has prevailing westerly winds, is completely surrounded by ocean and has a large mountain chain affecting east-bound weather systems. With a climate that varies from the subtropical to subantarctic, the country is in a unique position to experience a great number of health impacts from climate change.
In the previous four parts of this series, we explored the changing indoor and outdoor environments, food security and nutrition, and the plants, animals and insects that contribute to disease. All of these have the potential to greatly impact mental health on a personal and community level.
Mental health
Mental health is “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to her or his community” (World Health Organization).
With a definition including many factors, the effects of climate change on mental health are many and varied. A survey of 95 countries by the World Health Organization in 2021 found that only nine have mental health and psychosocial support included in their national health and climate change plans, despite the growing evidence that climate change is having a real and serious effect on mental health.
New terms have been coined to help with the identification of global feelings towards climate change and our ability to process the changes.
1. Solastalgia – the emotional distress caused by environmental degradation in a familiar landscape
2. Ecological grief – sense of loss emerging from experiencing environmental degradation
3. Climate anxiety – the feeling of anxiety in the face of climate change
A changing outdoor environment can impact mental health
The changing outdoor environment means there is potential for job losses, movement of people from their social communities or change to the social fabric of their communities. The impacts of such changes can lead to increases in anxiety and other mental health conditions such as depression.
In Tuvalu, one of our Pacific neighbours, a high proportion of the country’s residents who responded to a recent study are already experiencing psychological distress in relation to stressors of climate change. Here in Aotearoa New Zealand, “…the natural environment is at the heart of the nation’s identity, particularly for Māori, shaping the economy, lifestyles and culture. Disruption of cherished bonds between individuals and their environment, such as during the managed retreat of threatened coastal communities, can cause grief, loss, and anxiety” (Royal Society report, 2017).
Disproportionally affected demographics
Socioeconomic status has a large impact on mental health. Approximately one billion people globally have mental health conditions, but three-quarters of people in low-to-middle income countries do not have access to mental health services. The individuals, families, and communities, in low-to-middle income countries tend to have less access to resources required to adapt to changing climate. Accessibility of clean water and nutritious food may become less secure which can lead to stressors like anxiety. Changes in the food supply and nutrition can also contribute to psychiatric illness.
For people with pre-existing mental health conditions, some medications can interfere with their ability to regulate heat. Medications can also impact a person’s awareness of their body temperature meaning heat-related illnesses could more severely affect people with mental health conditions.
In people who work outdoors, air pollution and higher temperatures can increase the risk of neurological and psychiatric disorders such as strokes and dementia. This could result in people with physical conditions becoming affected by mental health conditions.
Women are also likely to be more affected by climate-related mental health. Often women take the brunt of the burden of care. This can include physically taking care of children, elderly relatives, and other family members. However, it may also include attempting to fit their families into disrupted social and cultural communities, and helping others process their mental health concerns. Many of these factors can increase stressors leading to an increase in mental health conditions in women.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) recognises the impacts of climate change on increasing mental health disorders and rates of suicide. They acknowledge that an appropriate response to the real threat of climate change can be mental stress, and that clinical disorders such as depression and anxiety are being contributed to by climate change.