Climate change and mental health

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Climate change and mental health

• Public Hearings on the Political, Economic,
  Legal, Gender and
• Social Impacts of Climate Change
• 17 - 18 November 2009

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Outline of presentation

• Importance of mental health as a human
  development issue
• Review the evidence from other parts of the world
  examining the impact of climate change on mental
  health.
• Significance of maintaining population mental
  health and well-being as a means of achieving
  human development in the face of climate change.

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What is mental health?

• Mental health is central to human development.
• WHO a state of well-being in which the
  individual realizes his or her own abilities, can
  cope with the normal stresses of life, can work
  productively and fruitfully, and is able to make
  a contribution to his or her community."

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High stressors Reduced access to social
capital/safety net Malnutrition Obstetric
risks Violence and trauma

• 1 in 6 South Africans suffer from depression,
  anxiety or substance use disorders.
• Approximately 1 in 3 pregnant or post-partum
  mothers have depression in SA.
• 17 of children and adolescents in the WCape have
  mental disorders.

Poverty
Mental ill-health
Increased health expenditure Social
exclusion Loss of employment Reduced
Productivity Social drift
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Impact of climate change on mental well-being
Diarrhoea Malaria Domestic violence Child
abuse Injury
Loss of housing Unstable shelter Displacement Lac
k of support services Employment
Extreme weather events
Climate change
Poor mental health
Long term weather changes e.g. drought
Job loss Food insecurity Displacement and
migration Water supply and sanitation
Malnutrition Stunting Developmental delay
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Impact in South Africa

• Significant concerns for individual and community
  mental health and well-being
• Vulnerable populations, e.g. those living in
  poverty, likely to be most affected.
• Climate change will exacerbate inequalities
  between rich and poor
• Impact upon existing development processes
• Negative effect on social networks and community
  systems

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Mental health and mitigating impact of climate
change

• Mental health crucial to human development
• Psychological resilience to effects of climate
  change
• Adaptive capacity of communities

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Recommendations

• Increased recognition of mental health as as
  central to human development i.e. mainstreaming
  of mental health issues.
• Increased investment in mental health promotion.
• Integration of mental health concerns into
  climate change reduction programmes.

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Recommendations

• Integration of mental health issues into disaster
  response planning, including for those with
  pre-existing conditions.
• Investment in research about climate change and
  mental health and well-being.
• Including mental health indicators into climate
  change surveillance systems.

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A make or break opportunity

• the spirit that freed South Africa must now
  rescue the planet
• Desmond Tutu 23rd October 2009