Climate change is increasingly recognized as a significant factor affecting the mental health of young individuals, according to a recent report from the American Psychological Association in collaboration with ecoAmerica. The report highlights the profound psychological impact of environmental events associated with climate change, such as weather disasters, extreme heat, and deteriorating air quality, on children and teenagers.
The consequences of climate-related events on young minds are substantial. Natural disasters, in particular, can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among these age groups. Additionally, long-term exposure to issues like heatwaves, drought, and air pollution can heighten the risk of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, aggression, cognitive impairment, and more.
Dr. Dennis P. Stolle, the senior director of applied psychology at the American Psychological Association, emphasized the immediate relevance of these findings, stating, “The report documents psychological harms that are happening right now to the children and youth in our country. These are not issues that we can wait and resolve later. As a society, we must act now.”
The report, unveiled on Wednesday, serves as a follow-up to a 2021 study conducted jointly by the American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica. This latest report forms part of a series of studies conducted by the two organizations dating back to 2014. Rather than presenting new experiments, these studies compile existing research on the intersections of climate change, mental health, and youth development.
The vulnerability of young individuals to climate-induced mental health consequences is underscored in the report. Dr. Sue Clayton, the report’s lead author and a professor of psychology at the College of Wooster, emphasized that young people often lack the coping mechanisms possessed by adults, rendering them more susceptible to the psychological impacts of climate-related weather events.
Moreover, the report identifies the critical role of parental stress linked to environmental hardships, such as extreme heat or wildfires, in influencing a child’s mental health. Dr. Clayton explained, “If your parent is under stress because of worries or these fears, that can affect a child and their mental health. Experiencing trauma at an early age can have lifelong impacts on emotional health and well-being.”
Significantly, the report indicates that the mental health consequences may begin even before birth. Prenatal exposure to weather disasters, high temperatures, air pollution, and maternal anxiety can elevate the child’s risk of various behavioral and developmental issues, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, developmental delays, low self-control, and psychiatric disorders. These impacts can disrupt the development of the nervous system and, often, are irreversible.
For infants and young children, weather events linked to climate change, as well as exposure to news reports about such events, can lead to anxiety, sleep disturbances, PTSD, disrupted cognitive development, and major depressive disorder.
Adolescents are also susceptible to mental health effects stemming from climate change-related natural disasters, with the report emphasizing the potential indirect impacts. Weather events, heatwaves, and pollution can disrupt their lives, leading to class cancellations, home damage, or food insecurity, ultimately affecting their mental well-being.
