“The psychological footprints of climate change are intense. With an increasing number of natural disasters comes the loss of homes, livelihood, and loved ones, combined with immense grief, hopelessness, trauma, uncertainty, depression, and fear.”

The relentless force of climate change has made the planet undergo a tragic transformation. The visible wounds of rising temperatures and environmental destruction are not the only things demanding human attention. There is a devastating toll quietly dismantling in the shadows, affecting the mental health of both humans and animals. It is no surprise that with extreme weather changes and a rise in pollution, climate change negatively influences human behavior.

As the saying goes “You can’t change what you can’t measure” and this aptly applies to the impact of climate change on mental health. If left unaddressed, the worsening climate patterns, political instability, lack of psychological support, and mental health stigma are a perfect recipe for disaster. The mass evacuations triggered by the threat of cyclone Biparjoy are just another example highlighting the immediate and long-lasting mental health consequences people living in vulnerable areas face.

In Pakistan, around 33 million people from 116 different districts were affected by the 2022 floods. The disruption of livelihoods, losses of homes, and displacement have resulted in a plethora of psychological stressors in an already exigent situation. Limited resources and support systems coupled with little access to healthcare fall disproportionately on the mental health toll.

“Aside from providing a slow death to the planet, climate change has contributed to the existence of new psychological disorders such as Eco-anxiety, Solastalgia, Ecological grief, and Climate anxiety.”

The psychological footprints of climate change are intense. With an increasing number of natural disasters comes the loss of homes, livelihood, and loved ones, combined with immense grief, hopelessness, trauma, uncertainty, depression, and fear. All the hard work worth a lifetime of a poor oblivious is wiped out in a flash when natural calamity strikes and he is left to wonder if there is any purpose of living at all.

Aside from providing a slow death to the planet, climate change has contributed to the existence of new psychological disorders. Albeit Eco-anxiety has not been officially listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the American Psychology Association (APA) describes it as the chronic fear of environmental cataclysm that comes from the irrevocable impact of climate change and the associated concern for the future.

Other psychological reactions to climate change are Solastalgia– the inability to find solace in a familiar landscape due to environmental degradation. Ecological grief which is the sense of profound sorrow and loss from environmental degradation and Climate anxiety which is simply uncontrollable neurotic thoughts related to climate change.

In Layman’s terms, eco-anxiety is the psychological phenomenon emerging as a result of a hyperawareness of climate change and its consequences. People suffering from this condition have increased stress levels, irregular sleep, and a sense of helplessness. A study published in the journal Global Environmental Change states that eco-anxiety is more prevalent among the younger generation as they are burdened by the negative impacts of climate change.

“Recent natural disasters such as Floods and Earthquakes leave millions of people without a roof and displaced. Large-scale evacuations and forced migrations result in profound feelings of disorientation, grief, anger, and loss in the victims. Suicide rates have also spiked due to climate change.”

Recently published research on this topic should be enough to ring alarm bells within the Pakistani public as it is the fifth most populous nation with 64%  of the population comprising youth. A large chunk of Pakistan’s nation will have to bear the brunt of their predecessors’ actions and live a life filled with struggle, disease, and despair if the harmful impacts of climate change are not mitigated.

One of the ways Climate Change leaves a mark on the human mind is through the brunt of evacuations and migrations. Recent natural disasters such as Floods and Earthquakes leave millions of people without a roof and displaced. People experiencing such tragedies are forced to live like refugees in their own country. These large-scale evacuations and forced migrations result in profound feelings of disorientation, grief, anger, and loss in the victims.

Consequently, PTSD, depression, and anxiety rates surge. According to the World Health Organization, 200 million people will be displaced globally by 2025. Pakistan’s glaciers are at risk of melting due to anthropogenic actions which will result in mass flooding, destruction of infrastructure, loss of life, and displacement of thousands of people.

Women are also vulnerable to the psychological impacts of climate change. in response to extreme weather events, the affected women experience not only depression, PTSD, and anxiety, but also social isolation as they are forced to migrate or adapt to new living environments. The loss of their previous livelihood compels them to take up new jobs in unfamiliar surroundings which results in high physical and mental stress alongside untreated lifelong PTSD.

“Crimes against gender have a link with Climate Change. Domestic Violence increases with the temperature. As the weather goes up, so do the violent crimes such as murder and robbery. The psychological blows of climate change are not limited to human beings. Wildlife bears the brunt of climate change as well.”

A study done on the victims of the 2022 floods shows that the victims and the nearby population exhibited signs of depression, insomnia, mood dysregulation, and an inability to cope with trauma. Suicide rates have spiked due to climate change. 203 suicides were reported in the Ghizer District, Gilgit Baltistan between 2006-2017. Extreme weather conditions such as frequent droughts have horribly impacted the Thar region with an alarming rise in suicides as well. It is only a matter of time before other parts of the country also start experiencing the harmful symptoms of climate change.

Crimes against gender have a link with Climate Change. One study published in JAMA Psychiatry revealed that a 1C increase in average annual temperature resulted in more than 6.3% of incidents related to sexual and physical domestic violence across Pakistan, India, and Nepal. Extreme temperatures impact livelihoods and increase economic stress which manifests into pent-up aggression. In most cases, it is women at the receiving end of this rage unleashed by the male breadwinner of the family.

According to the Routine Activity Theory, violent crimes go up as the weather goes up. Social interaction increases in warmer regions which provides more opportunities for crime. The number of murders and violent crimes increases with the rise in temperature. Warmer regions produce more aggression, impatience, and irritation among people as well. Pakistani society is also no stranger to this phenomenon.

The psychological blows of climate change are not limited to human beings. Wildlife bears the brunt of climate change-induced issues such as habitat loss, increased disease transmission, and lack of food, as a result of ecosystem shifts.

Innocent animals experience mental health complications such as heightened aggression, anxiety, depression, abnormal behaviors, and reduced reproductive success. Recent natural catastrophes such as the floods, cyclones, heavy rains, and earthquakes in Pakistan have amplified concerns for animal welfare.

We live with the belief that if we close our eyes, it’s not real but Climate Change is impacting every domain of our lives at a vigorous pace. While the devastating consequences of anthropogenic actions on the planet are taken seriously by the world, the impact on mental health should not be overlooked. Despite progressive steps taken in Pakistan, the discrimination and stigma attached to mental health still remains. To ensure a better future filled with hope and environmental sustainability, we need to recognize mental health as an integral part of our collective well-being.

*This Blog post is written by Saaremeen Fatima Sayyami. She is a Program Officer at Accountability Lab Pakistan.