Climate Change and Mental Health

The document outlines how climate change impacts mental health through direct, indirect, and vicarious risks. It provides data on depression and PTSD following disasters like hurricanes, highlights widespread climate anxiety among Americans and global youth, and discusses strategies for building individual and community resilience.

• Climate-related mental health risks are categorized into three types: direct risks (such as PTSD from personal trauma during a hurricane), indirect risks (such as substance abuse resulting from drought-impacted livelihoods), and vicarious risks (such as distress from witnessing climate impacts on others).
• Post-disaster mental health outcomes are significant, with the American Public Health Association reporting that up to 54% of adults and 45% of children suffer depression after a disaster. PTSD rates vary by event, with the highest rates observed among Puerto Ricans after Hurricane Maria (2017), ranging from 44% to 66% for those displaced on the island and in Florida respectively. Other examples include PTSD symptoms in one in six people affected by Hurricane Katrina (2005) in Mississippi and Louisiana, 15% of New York City residents after Hurricane Sandy (2012), and 25% of Houston residents three months after Hurricane Harvey (2017).
• Climate anxiety is prevalent in the U.S., with 70% of Americans feeling at least "somewhat worried" about global warming and 35% feeling "very worried." Additionally, 48% of adults agree that climate change is already affecting the mental health of Americans, and 51% are anxious about its impact on future generations.
• A survey of 10,000 youth across 10 countries indicated that 84% were at least moderately worried about climate change. Specifically in the U.S., surveyed youth reported feeling anxious (58%), sad (57%), and depressed (34%) regarding climate change.
• Certain populations face higher mental health risks due to the interaction of physical hazards with non-climatic factors like structural inequity. These vulnerable groups include children, older adults, women, people with disabilities, the economically disadvantaged, communities of color, Indigenous Peoples, people with pre-existing mental health diagnoses, and outdoor workers.

APA

Climate Central (2022). Climate Change and Mental Health. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/climate-change-and-mental-health

Chicago

Climate Central. Climate Change and Mental Health. 2022. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/climate-change-and-mental-health.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=Climate Change and Mental Health |date=25 May 2022 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/climate-change-and-mental-health |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral2022climate, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{Climate Change and Mental Health}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2022}, month = may, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/climate-change-and-mental-health}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }