Researchers warn

Climate change is making people mentally ill

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Climate change is likely to have a significant impact on our mental health. Researchers even claim to have found a direct link between rising temperatures and psychiatric illnesses. According to them, the suicide rate is also increasing significantly.

Social and economic factors have a direct impact on our mental well-being. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), these risk factors currently appear to be exacerbated by climate change, it was reported in a press release.

"Current data show a direct correlation between suicidal tendencies and rising temperatures. An increase of just one degree correlates with a significant increase in suicidal behavior," says Margit Wrobel, psychiatrist and opening speaker at this year's congress of the Austrian Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (ÖGPP).

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Increase in aggression and alcohol abuse
The heatwaves that have occurred in recent years have also had an impact on mental health, she said, referring to study data showing that there is an increase in visits to psychiatric facilities and inpatient admissions during hot spells.

The increase in ambient temperature that can now be observed appears to influence mental health via various mechanisms. Social consequences due to climate change are also relevant. Increasing aggression or increased alcohol consumption due to economic stress factors were mentioned.

Protecting vulnerable groups
"We not only need a health policy framework that directly takes into account the effects of climate change on our mental health, but above all we must also actively protect particularly vulnerable groups in our society," warns Martin Aigner, President of the ÖGPP.