Oh that's easy - denying Climate Change, of course.
Posted on 04/12/2016 6:53:12 PM PDT by Chickensoup
This is the Medscape Psychiatry Minute. I'm Dr Peter Yellowlees.
Human-caused climate change, with global warming, is occurring. There is no longer any doubt that heat waves are more intense and longer, and floods and storms more frequent, as the world's temperature and sea levels rise. Much has been written about the potential health impact of extreme weather events around the world, such as infectious diseases, but what about the impact of climate change on the mental health of individuals and populations?
A team of investigators from Wellington, New Zealand, have reviewed this topic and concluded that extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, and storms, increase the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.[1] The authors described more significant indirect effects, however, that will arise primarily from damage to land, infrastructure, and community functioning, leading to migration, armed conflict, and other violence. They noted that these effects will be unevenly distributed and will be disproportionately affecting disadvantaged people, putting those with chronic mental illness at greater risk.
What can we do as psychiatrists? The authors suggest raising awareness of the importance of climate change, so pass this message on. We can advocate for the most vulnerable, as seen after Hurricane Katrina, where the poorest citizens were unable to afford to escape New Orleans and ending up camping at the football stadium. We must certainly research and educate about prevention and remediation of the impact of climate change and at the individual level, we can mitigate the effects by reducing our own carbon footprint.
Most important, though, as individuals and through our professional societies and community involvement, we must stop being in denial. We must learn about climate change so that we can prepare for life changes that will affect our children, our patients, and ourselves.
Thank you for listening to this Medscape Psychiatry Minute. Do enjoy your practice.
References
Human-caused climate change, with global warming, is occurring. There is no longer any doubt that heat waves are more intense and longer, and floods and storms more frequent, as the world's temperature and sea levels rise. Much has been written about the potential health impact of extreme weather events around the world, such as infectious diseases, but what about the impact of climate change on the mental health of individuals and populations?
A team of investigators from Wellington, New Zealand, have reviewed this topic and concluded that extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, and storms, increase the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.[1] The authors described more significant indirect effects, however, that will arise primarily from damage to land, infrastructure, and community functioning, leading to migration, armed conflict, and other violence. They noted that these effects will be unevenly distributed and will be disproportionately affecting disadvantaged people, putting those with chronic mental illness at greater risk.
What can we do as psychiatrists? The authors suggest raising awareness of the importance of climate change, so pass this message on. We can advocate for the most vulnerable, as seen after Hurricane Katrina, where the poorest citizens were unable to afford to escape New Orleans and ending up camping at the football stadium. We must certainly research and educate about prevention and remediation of the impact of climate change and at the individual level, we can mitigate the effects by reducing our own carbon footprint.
Most important, though, as individuals and through our professional societies and community involvement, we must stop being in denial. We must learn about climate change so that we can prepare for life changes that will affect our children, our patients, and ourselves.
Thank you for listening to this Medscape Psychiatry Minute. Do enjoy your practice.
References
Religious faith in AGW is a mental illness.
Does that answer the question?
I think a better question is “what are the mental health effects of *believing in* climate change?”
Anti-scientific stuff like this is driving me nuts, so he’s right.
Total mental anguish to those who believe in manmade CC..
No effect to the sane people....
The question is somewhat backwards. Man-made climate change phobia is the result of deranged minds (and scam artists). There...fixed it. :-)
I notice that Medscape along with a number of other sites have disabled their comments sections and move things to be posted on FB. Like hell I will!
Breitbart is the most notable example. No more Disqus.
Oh that's easy - denying Climate Change, of course.
What is “climate change”? Give us the measurable criteria from which we can gather empirical data to support or reject this theoretical and political hypothesis. Leave no stone unturned so we can know with no ambiguity that what you speculate is true. I think you want our property and money to transfer to non productive peoples for your political gain. Am I wrong? Show me.
You sound paranoid to me! laughing and running
Climate change causes my roids to flare.
It apparently drives some folk moonbat crazy .. FRuit Loopy..
Wrong premise, everything else is utter nonsense and a fraud. This Psychiatrist needs a shrink.
Is this satire?
‘The Onion’, maybe?
This guy needs medical help.
Paranoid? Well, there are millions of paranoid people in the world.
And they are all out to get me.
There is a picture at the site, he looks like a fatter longer haired Ted Kennedy!
If you believe it, you will die of poverty as the green vampires suck you dry.
This had to be from the Onion magazine. If it’s not I am scared, and not about the ever changing thing called the weather.
One thing I learned long ago is that there is no more dangerous force than an advanced degreed man or woman with no moral compass. They follow and implement each and every new thing without thought.
Haldol incoming!
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