By Meredith Lee, DO
UVA Health System
Charlottesville, VA
Like many of us, I have been concerned about climate change for many years. The Lancet called climate change the “greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century”. That being said, I don’t think I realized the enormous impact that climate change has on our mental health until more recently. The increase in natural disasters and climate-related events has not only taken its toll on the planet but also has taken its toll on the physical and mental health of humankind. We are also seeing a rise in climate-related distress (including eco-anxiety, grief, and anger) in our patients and ourselves.
There are many facets to climate change that are negatively impacting mental health. One of these issues is air pollution which can contribute to neuropsychiatric damage. We are also experiencing higher and more extreme temperatures which have been associated with medical and psychiatric morbidities. Rising temperatures are contributing to increasing suicide and violence. The effect on climate change on soil, food, and water systems will likely lead to food insecurity which can further impact one’s mental health (as well as physical health). Extreme weather and natural disasters can result in displacement of individuals and communities from their homes. This is only a very brief description of some of the negative effects on mental health due to our changing climate. I am currently reading Elizabeth Haase’s Handbook of Climate Psychiatry and Psychotherapy: A Manual for Clinicians (APA Publishing, 2025) which is a very comprehensive resource. I have only finished the first few chapters, so I am unable to provide a book review, but I am learning so much about the relationship of our changing climate to physical and mental health. For example, did you know how some of our psychiatric medications may affect thermoregulation and therefore have increased side effects during higher temperatures? Antipsychotics and anticholinergics can reduce sweating which may lead to reduced inability to cool oneself, potentially increasing risk for heat illness.
So what can we do about this?
In my opinion, the first thing we need to do is educate ourselves. A great place to start is the website for Climate Psychiatry Alliance (https://www.climatepsychiatry.org/). We need to be able to educate our patients about protecting themselves from extreme heat, air pollution, and other environmental conditions that may put them at risk. We also need to “hope for the best but plan for the worst” and ensure we have emergency preparedness discussions with our families, our communities, and with our patients in the event of a climate disaster. As individuals we can find ways to reduce our carbon footprint. As communities we can build connections, foster resilience, and prepare ourselves as needed. We can speak with our legislators and advocate for laws to help protect our planet while also advocating for our patients and our profession. We have the opportunity (and duty) to continue to improve mental health outcomes for our patients.
Resources
- Haase, Elizabeth. Handbook of Climate Psychiatry and Psychotherapy: A Manual for Clinicians. Washington DC, American Psychiatric Association Publishing, 2025.
- Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action: https://www.climatepsychiatry.org/
- Climate Psychiatry Alliance: https://www.climatepsychiatry.org/
