There is no doubt that our earth has been in a constant flux. But recently, it has been changing faster than ever, thanks to the countless risks to the environment.
A recent study showed how the idea of living in the midst of the climate crisis was affecting people's anxiety and depression levels. In the long run, our changing climate will create job uncertainty which will lead to economic insecurity, not to mention the extreme and volatile weather patterns, which will affect mental health.
There is now growing evidence of a link between certain air pollutants and mental illnesses such as depression, dementia, anxiety and suicide. The risk is especially high among young people living in urban areas: according to a recent study published in Psychiatry Research, children become three to four times more likely to have depression at 18 if they had been exposed to dirtier air at age 12.
Lead, a heavy metal, is also toxic to our nervous system as confirmed in the latest Global Chemicals Outlook. Even very low levels of lead concentration in blood may be associated with decreased intelligence, behavioral difficulties and learning problems in children. According to the latest IPBES report, urbanization can increase isolation from nature, which in turn prevents people from harnessing the mental health benefits of being surrounded by natural environments. It also creates risky exposure to the type of air pollution that primarily affects mental health.
Another study by the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center shows a link between high traffic-related air pollution and anxiety levels.
All of this data suggests that climate change will affect us, not only physically but mentally too which might make the society suffer as a whole. Humans have always been around nature. We seek nature's comforting ambience in our highs and our lows. Nature has always been for us. It's high time we return the favor
Arhana R
The Carbon Newsprint
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