The urgent priority of addressing climate change and its impact on young people’s mental health is underscored by the research presented at the COP29 international climate summit in Azerbaijan. As psychiatrists specializing in children and adolescents, our study reveals the disturbing link between higher temperatures and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among young individuals.
### Mental Health is Getting Worse
– Young people’s mental health is deteriorating globally, with evidence pointing to the lack of action on climate change as a contributing factor.
– The tangible effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events like bushfires and floods, disrupt children’s lives and lead to trauma, anxiety, and stress.
### Suicidal Behavior Risk Increases with Hotter Weather
– Small increases in average temperatures can lead to a significant rise in the number of hot days per year, impacting young people disproportionately.
– Our research focused on emergency department presentations for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young individuals aged 12-24 during warmer months, showing a direct correlation between temperature rise and increased risk of suicidal behavior.
### Heat and Inequality
– Young people in disadvantaged areas face a higher risk of presenting at emergency departments for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, even at the same temperature as those in more advantaged regions.
– Socioeconomic disadvantage can exacerbate vulnerability to the negative impacts of hot weather due to factors like lack of cooling options, transportation, and access to resources.
### Complex Interactions for Mental Health
– Climate change’s mental health implications involve intricate interactions between various factors over time, challenging simplistic cause-and-effect models.
– Distress among young people regarding climate change may stem from a healthy response to an unhealthy reality, exacerbated by inadequate action and dismissive attitudes from authorities.
### What We’ll Be Telling COP29
– Leaders must recognize the existing toll on youth mental health due to climate change and take swift action to mitigate climate distress.
– Transitioning away from fossil fuels in high-income countries like Australia is crucial to addressing climate-related mental health issues and improving overall well-being.
### How Can We Adapt?
– National, state, and local mental health systems must be prepared to address the mental health challenges posed by climate change.
– Public health messaging should include information on mental health risks associated with hot weather, targeting young people and incorporating mental health into health professional training.
– Policy recommendations on mental health in the National Health and Climate Strategy need to be translated into actionable measures, including improving infrastructure for extreme heat and enhancing access to mental health care for children and young individuals.
In conclusion, urgent action is needed to address the mental health impacts of climate change on young people, with a focus on implementing practical solutions at all levels of society to safeguard the well-being of future generations.