1
|
Navas-Martín MÁ, Cuerdo-Vilches T, López-Bueno JA, Díaz J, Linares C, Sánchez-Martínez G. Human adaptation to heat in the context of climate change: A conceptual framework. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118803. [PMID: 38565417 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is causing serious damage to natural and social systems, as well as having an impact on human health. Among the direct effects of climate change is the rise in global surface temperatures and the increase in the frequency, duration, intensity and severity of heat waves. In addition, understanding of the adaptation process of the exposed population remains limited, posing a challenge in accurately estimating heat-related morbidity and mortality. In this context, this study seeks to establish a conceptual framework that would make it easier to understand and organise knowledge about human adaptation to heat and the factors that may influence this process. An inductive approach based on grounded theory was used, through the analysis of case studies connecting concepts. The proposed conceptual framework is made up of five components (climate change, vulnerability, health risks of heat, axes of inequality and health outcomes), three heat-adaptation domains (physiological, cultural and political), two levels (individual and social), and the pre-existing before a heat event. The application of this conceptual framework facilitates the assistance of decision-makers in planning and implementing effective adaptation measures. Recognizing the importance of addressing heat adaptation as a health problem that calls for political solutions and social changes. Accordingly, this requires a multidisciplinary approach that would foster the participation and collaboration of multiple actors for the purpose of proposing effective measures to address the health impact of the rise in temperature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ángel Navas-Martín
- Programme in Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, National University of Distance Education (UNED), Madrid, Spain; National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches
- Eduardo Torroja Construction Sciences Institute (IETCC), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Julio Díaz
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Linares
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Padrón-Monedero A, Linares C, Díaz J, Noguer-Zambrano I. Impact of drought on mental and behavioral disorders, contributions of research in a climate change context. A narrative review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2024; 68:1035-1042. [PMID: 38503966 PMCID: PMC11109013 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-024-02657-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Mental and behavioral disorders are an important public health problem and constitute a priority for the WHO, whose recommendations include the surveillance of their risk factors. On the other hand, drought episodes have been increasing in frequency and severity in Europe since 1980. Therefore, to review the present knowledge about the impact of drought on mental and behavioral disorders, in the present climate change context, and to underline potential research gaps, could be of major interest. Thus, we performed a narrative review using online academic databases with the aim of identifying relevant literature about the impact of drought on mental and behavioral disorders. To the best of our knowledge, no study in Europe quantifies the potential association between drought and mental disorders. A limited number of studies have found significant associations between droughts (with different temporal ranges) and various measures of mental health. However, according to our review, only three of them quantified the association between drought and objective mental health outcomes, such as number of emergencies due to clinically diagnosed mental disorders or suicides. Additionally, few studies used specific indices as a measure of drought; and finally, as far as authors are aware, none of them has analyzed this relationship adjusting for various other potential environmental confounders. Moreover, the eventual association could vary between different geographical areas within the same country. Therefore, national and regional studies would be especially necessary. Thus, there is a need for specific national and regional studies, in Europe and globally, that assess the impact of specific indices of drought (with different temporal ranges) on objective mental health outcomes controlling for potential environmental confounders. Moreover, the quantification of its cost would be necessary for health prioritization, evidence-based policies and strategic health planning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Padrón-Monedero
- Health Programs Department, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Av./ Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Cristina Linares
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Health Institute (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Av./ Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Díaz
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Health Institute (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Av./ Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Noguer-Zambrano
- Health Programs Department, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Av./ Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Berman JD, Abadi AM, Bell JE. Existing Challenges and Opportunities for Advancing Drought and Health Research. Curr Environ Health Rep 2024; 11:255-265. [PMID: 38568401 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00440-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Drought is one of the most far-reaching natural disasters, yet drought and health research is sparse. This may be attributed to the challenge of quantifying drought exposure, something complicated by multiple drought indices without any designed for health research. The purpose of this general review is to evaluate current drought and health literature and highlight challenges or scientific considerations when performing drought exposure and health assessments. RECENT FINDINGS The literature revealed a small, but growing, number of drought and health studies primarily emphasizing Australian, western European, and US populations. The selection of drought indices and definitions of drought are inconsistent. Rural and agricultural populations have been identified as vulnerable cohorts, particularly for mental health outcomes. Using relevant examples, we discuss the importance of characterizing drought and explore why health outcomes, populations of interest, and compound environmental hazards are crucial considerations for drought and health assessments. As climate and health research is prioritized, we propose guidance for investigators performing drought-focused analyses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D Berman
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Mayo Mail Code #807, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Azar M Abadi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Jesse E Bell
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, Medical Center College of Public Health, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE, USA
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Salvador C, Nieto R, Kapwata T, Wright CY, Reason C, Gimeno L, Vicedo-Cabrera AM. Analyzing the effects of drought at different time scales on cause-specific mortality in South Africa. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS : ERL [WEB SITE] 2024; 19:054022. [PMID: 38855580 PMCID: PMC7616071 DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad3bd2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
South Africa (SA) is highly vulnerable to the effects of drought on the environment, economy, and society. However, its effect on human health remains unclear. Understanding the mortality risk associated with different types of droughts in different population groups and by specific causes would help clarify the potential mechanisms involved. The study aims to comprehensively assess the effect of droughts of varying time scales on cause-specific mortality (all; infectious and parasitic; endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic; cardiovascular; respiratory) in SA (from 2009-2016) and identify more vulnerable profiles based on sex and age. We also evaluated the urbanicity and district-level socioeconomic deprivation as potential risk modifiers. We used a two-stage time-series study design, with the weekly standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI) calculated at 1, 6, 12, and 15 months of accumulation to identify droughts of different duration (SPEI1, 6, 12, 15, respectively). We applied a quasi-Poisson regression adjusted by mean temperature to assess the association between each type of drought and weekly mortality in all district municipalities of SA, and then pooled the estimates in a meta-regression model. We reported relative risks (RRs) for one unit increase of drought severity. Overall, we found a positive association between droughts (regardless the time scale) and all causes of death analyzed. The strongest associations were found for the drought events more prolonged (RR [95%CI]: 1.027 [1.018, 1.036] (SPEI1); 1.035 [1.021, 1.050] (SPEI6); 1.033 [1.008, 1.058] (SPEI12); 1.098 [1.068, 1.129] (SPEI15)) and respiratory mortality (RRs varied from 1.037 [1.021, 1.053] (SPEI1) to 1.189 [1.14, 1.241] (SPEI15)). An indication of greater vulnerability was found in younger adults for the shortest droughts, in older adults for medium-term and long-term droughts, and children for very long-term droughts. However, differences were not significant. Further evidence of the relevance of urbanicity and demographic and socioeconomic conditions as potential risk modifiers is needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Coral Salvador
- Centro de Investigación Marinã, Universidade de Vigo, Environmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab), Ourense, Spain
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Raquel Nieto
- Centro de Investigación Marinã, Universidade de Vigo, Environmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab), Ourense, Spain
| | - Thandi Kapwata
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2090, South Africa
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Caradee Y Wright
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
- Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Chris Reason
- Oceanography Department, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Luis Gimeno
- Centro de Investigación Marinã, Universidade de Vigo, Environmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab), Ourense, Spain
| | - Ana M Vicedo-Cabrera
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Trost K, Ertl V, König J, Rosner R, Comtesse H. Climate change-related concerns in psychotherapy: therapists' experiences and views on addressing this topic in therapy. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:192. [PMID: 38589939 PMCID: PMC11003001 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01677-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While adverse impacts of climate change on physical health are well-known, research on its effects on mental health is still scarce. Thus, it is unclear whether potential impacts have already reached treatment practice. Our study aimed to quantify psychotherapists' experiences with patients reporting climate change-related concerns and their views on dealing with this topic in psychotherapy. METHODS In a nationwide online survey, responses were collected from 573 psychotherapists from Germany. Therapists reported on the presence of such patients, their socio-demographic characteristics, and climate change-related reactions. Psychotherapists' views on dealing with this topic in psychotherapy were also assessed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the responses. RESULTS About 72% (410/573) of psychotherapists indicated having had patients expressing concerns about climate change during treatment. Out of these therapists, 41% (166/410) stated that at least one patient sought treatment deliberately because of such concerns. Patients were mainly young adults with higher education. Most frequent primary diagnoses were depression, adjustment disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Psychotherapists having encountered such patients differed from those without such encounters in their views on potential functional impairment and the necessity to target the concerns in treatment. Although 79% (326/415) of all respondents felt adequately prepared by their current therapeutic skills, 50% (209/414) reported a lack of information on how to deal with such concerns in therapy. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that psychotherapists are frequently confronted with climate change-related concerns and regard the mental health impact of climate change on their patients as meaningful to psychotherapeutic care. Regular care could be improved by a continuous refinement of the conceptualization and knowledge of the mental health influences of climate change. This would allow providing tailored methods of assessing and addressing climate change-related concerns in practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Trost
- Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, Eichstaett, Germany.
| | - Verena Ertl
- Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, Eichstaett, Germany
| | - Julia König
- Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, Eichstaett, Germany
| | - Rita Rosner
- Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, Eichstaett, Germany
| | - Hannah Comtesse
- Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, Eichstaett, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Usher K, Rice K, Williams J. Editorial for IJMHN: An application of the 'one health' approach for extreme weather events and mental health: Can the adoption of a 'one health' approach better prepare us for the predicted drought in parts of rural Australia? Int J Ment Health Nurs 2024; 33:220-223. [PMID: 38379354 DOI: 10.1111/inm.13310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Kim Usher
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
- New England Virtual Health Network (NEViHN), Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kylie Rice
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
- New England Virtual Health Network (NEViHN), Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jen Williams
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
- New England Virtual Health Network (NEViHN), Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Madani Hosseini M, Zargoush M, Ghazalbash S. Climate crisis risks to elderly health: strategies for effective promotion and response. Health Promot Int 2024; 39:daae031. [PMID: 38568732 PMCID: PMC10989664 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daae031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The climate crisis significantly impacts the health and well-being of older adults, both directly and indirectly. This issue is of growing concern in Canada due to the country's rapidly accelerating warming trend and expanding elderly population. This article serves a threefold purpose: (i) outlining the impacts of the climate crisis on older adults, (ii) providing a descriptive review of existing policies with a specific focus on the Canadian context, and (iii) promoting actionable recommendations. Our review reveals the application of current strategies, including early warning systems, enhanced infrastructure, sustainable urban planning, healthcare access, social support systems, and community engagement, in enhancing resilience and reducing health consequences among older adults. Within the Canadian context, we then emphasize the importance of establishing robust risk metrics and evaluation methods to prepare for and manage the impacts of the climate crisis efficiently. We underscore the value of vulnerability mapping, utilizing geographic information to identify regions where older adults are most at risk. This allows for targeted interventions and resource allocation. We recommend employing a root cause analysis approach to tailor risk response strategies, along with a focus on promoting awareness, readiness, physician training, and fostering collaboration and benchmarking. These suggestions aim to enhance disaster risk management for the well-being and resilience of older adults in the face of the climate crisis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Madani Hosseini
- Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Manaf Zargoush
- Health Policy & Management, DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4M4, Canada
| | - Somayeh Ghazalbash
- Management Analytics, Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Şimşek Ö, Isak MA, Dönmez D, Dalda Şekerci A, İzgü T, Kaçar YA. Advanced Biotechnological Interventions in Mitigating Drought Stress in Plants. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:717. [PMID: 38475564 DOI: 10.3390/plants13050717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
This comprehensive article critically analyzes the advanced biotechnological strategies to mitigate plant drought stress. It encompasses an in-depth exploration of the latest developments in plant genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, shedding light on the complex molecular mechanisms that plants employ to combat drought stress. The study also emphasizes the significant advancements in genetic engineering techniques, particularly CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, which have revolutionized the creation of drought-resistant crop varieties. Furthermore, the article explores microbial biotechnology's pivotal role, such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhizae, in enhancing plant resilience against drought conditions. The integration of these cutting-edge biotechnological interventions with traditional breeding methods is presented as a holistic approach for fortifying crops against drought stress. This integration addresses immediate agricultural needs and contributes significantly to sustainable agriculture, ensuring food security in the face of escalating climate change challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Özhan Şimşek
- Horticulture Department, Agriculture Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38030, Türkiye
| | - Musab A Isak
- Agricultural Sciences and Technology Department, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38030, Türkiye
| | - Dicle Dönmez
- Biotechnology Research and Application Center, Çukurova University, Adana 01330, Türkiye
| | - Akife Dalda Şekerci
- Horticulture Department, Agriculture Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38030, Türkiye
| | - Tolga İzgü
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute of BioEconomy, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Yıldız Aka Kaçar
- Horticulture Department, Agriculture Faculty, Çukurova University, Adana 01330, Türkiye
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Xiang R, Hou X, Li R. Health risks from extreme heat in China: Evidence from health insurance. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 354:120300. [PMID: 38359625 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Global warming has accentuated the effects of extreme heat on health. Health insurance, functioning as a risk management tool, has the potential to alleviate these impacts. Consequently, this paper investigates the correlation between extreme heat events and the demand for health insurance in China. Using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, we have observed a substantial increase in the likelihood of residents purchasing health insurance during extreme heat events. To be specific, for every extra day of extreme heat events annually, there is a 0.3% increase in the probability of purchasing health insurance. This effect is not uniform across different demographic groups. It is particularly pronounced among middle-aged and elderly individuals, rural residents, those with lower educational levels, higher income brackets, and individuals residing in underprivileged areas with limited access to green spaces and healthcare facilities. Furthermore, our study indicates that the increased frequency of extreme heat events not only impacts individuals' physical health but also triggers negative emotions, which in turn drive risk-averse behavior related to health insurance purchases. These findings carry substantial policy implications for mitigating the economic consequences of climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruojun Xiang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Xiaojuan Hou
- Financial Technology Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Ruifeng Li
- School of Management, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
He P, Yu B, Ma J, Luo K, Chen S, Shen Z. Exploring the non-linear relationship and synergistic effect between urban built environment and public sentiment integrating macro- and micro-level perspective: a case study in San Francisco. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1276923. [PMID: 38390408 PMCID: PMC10881791 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1276923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Public sentiment can effectively evaluate the public's feelings of well-being in the urban environment and reflect the quality of the spatial environment to a certain extent. Previous studies on the relationship between public sentiment and urban built environmental factors have yielded meaningful results. However, few studies have focused on the effect of micro-built environment on public sentiment at the street level, which directly shapes people's perceptions. In addition, the nonlinear relationship and synergistic effect among urban built environmental factors have been commonly disregarded in previous studies, resulting in an incomplete understanding of the impact of urban built environment on public emotions. Therefore, this paper takes San Francisco as a study case to explore the complex relationship between urban built environmental factors and public emotions. Specifically, this paper measures the polarity of public emotions through sentiment analysis on Twitter data, establishes a comprehensive built environment index system from both macro- and micro- perspectives, and subsequently explores the complex relationship between the urban built environment and public sentiment through the OLS model and Shapley Additive Explanation algorithm. Results show that: (1) micro-built environmental factors have a significant influence on public emotion, although they have been frequently ignored. (2) Public sentiment tends to be more positive in areas with recreation facilities, mixed land use, rich street view visual environment, suitable thermal and acoustic environment, balanced income, and a suitable degree of high population density. (3) A nonlinear relationship and threshold effect exist between the built environmental variables and the semantic orientations of public emotion. Environment improvement strategies based on the synergic effect between variables can effectively promote the generation of positive emotions. Our empirical findings can offer valuable insights to promote feelings of well-being and foster an urban development approach through strategic interventions within the urban built environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pingge He
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bingjie Yu
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiexi Ma
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Keqian Luo
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Siting Chen
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhongwei Shen
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Larrondo C, Guevara RD, Calderón-Amor J, Munoz C, Cáceres C, Alvarado M, Fresno M, Di Pillo F. One Welfare: Assessing the Effects of Drought and the COVID-19 Pandemic on Farmers' Well-Being and Their Perception of Goats' Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3297. [PMID: 37894021 PMCID: PMC10603839 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Considering the interconnections between human well-being, animal welfare, and the environment, this study aimed to investigate the impacts of drought and the COVID-19 pandemic on small-scale goat farmers' well-being and their perception of goats' welfare following the One Welfare framework. Using a telephone survey, close-ended questions, and Likert scales, we assessed the impacts of drought and the COVID-19 pandemic on human well-being and animal welfare in the Coquimbo region of Chile. The DASS-21 questionnaire was used to evaluate farmers' mental health. Goat farmers perceived the scarcity of water and food for animals as factors that negatively affected animal productivity and welfare and caused an increase in farmers' stress levels. Farmers who had not been visited by a veterinarian showed higher levels of stress than those who received one visit during the year (M = 10 vs. 2, p = 0.025). Additionally, farmers who perceived better welfare of their animals showed lower levels of depression (rs = -0.17, p = 0.048), anxiety (rs = -0.21, p = 0.016), and stress (rs = -0.33, p < 0.001). These findings emphasize the importance of addressing farmers' mental health and veterinary support as crucial aspects to ensure both goat welfare and farm productivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Larrondo
- Núcleo de Investigaciones Aplicadas en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Sede Viña del Mar, 7 Norte 1348, Viña del Mar 2531098, Chile
- AWEC Advisors S.L. Eureka Building. Parc de Recerca de la UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain;
| | - Raúl David Guevara
- AWEC Advisors S.L. Eureka Building. Parc de Recerca de la UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain;
| | - Javiera Calderón-Amor
- Escuela de Graduados, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile;
| | - Carolina Munoz
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | - Carolina Cáceres
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Sede Viña del Mar, 7 Norte 1348, Viña del Mar 2531098, Chile; (C.C.); (M.A.)
| | - Mabeley Alvarado
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Sede Viña del Mar, 7 Norte 1348, Viña del Mar 2531098, Chile; (C.C.); (M.A.)
| | - Marcela Fresno
- Núcleo de Investigaciones Aplicadas en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Sede Santiago, Manuel Montt 948, Santiago 7500972, Chile; (M.F.); (F.D.P.)
| | - Francisca Di Pillo
- Núcleo de Investigaciones Aplicadas en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Sede Santiago, Manuel Montt 948, Santiago 7500972, Chile; (M.F.); (F.D.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Klinner C, Glozier N, Yeung M, Conn K, Milton A. A qualitative exploration of young people's mental health needs in rural and regional Australia: engagement, empowerment and integration. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:745. [PMID: 37833680 PMCID: PMC10571294 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05209-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Australian rural and regional communities are marked by geographic isolation and increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters such as drought, bushfires and floods. These circumstances strain the mental health of their inhabitants and jeopardise the healthy mental and emotional development of their adolescent populations. Professional mental health care in these communities is often inconsistent and un-coordinated. While substantial research has examined the barriers of young people's mental health and help-seeking behaviours in these communities, there is a lack of research exploring what adolescents in rural and regional areas view as facilitators to their mental health and to seeking help when it is needed. This study aims to establish an in-depth understanding of those young people's experiences and needs regarding mental health, what facilitates their help-seeking, and what kind of mental health education and support they want and find useful. METHOD We conducted a qualitative study in 11 drought-affected rural and regional communities of New South Wales, Australia. Seventeen semi-structured (14 group; 3 individual) interviews were held with 42 year 9 and 10 high school students, 14 high school staff, and 2 parents, exploring participants' experiences of how geographical isolation and natural disasters impacted their mental health. We further examined participants' understandings and needs regarding locally available mental health support resources and their views and experiences regarding mental illness, stigma and help-seeking. RESULTS Thematic analysis highlighted that, through the lens of participants, young people's mental health and help-seeking needs would best be enabled by a well-coordinated multi-pronged community approach consisting of mental health education and support services that are locally available, free of charge, engaging, and empowering. Participants also highlighted the need to integrate young people's existing mental health supporters such as teachers, parents and school counselling services into such a community approach, recognising their strengths, limitations and own education and support needs. CONCLUSIONS We propose a three-dimensional Engagement, Empowerment, Integration model to strengthen young people's mental health development which comprises: 1) maximising young people's emotional investment (engagement); 2) developing young people's mental health self-management skills (empowerment); and, 3) integrating mental health education and support programs into existing community and school structures and resources (integration).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Klinner
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nick Glozier
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Australian Research Council (ARC), Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, Sydney, Australia
| | - Margaret Yeung
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Katrina Conn
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- NSW Department of Education, NSW, Australia
| | - Alyssa Milton
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
- Australian Research Council (ARC), Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, Sydney, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Harper SL, Cunsolo A, Aylward B, Clayton S, Minor K, Cooper M, Vriezen R. Estimating climate change and mental health impacts in Canada: A cross-sectional survey protocol. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291303. [PMID: 37819884 PMCID: PMC10566728 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change has severe and sweeping impacts on mental health. Although research is burgeoning on mental health impacts following climate and weather extremes, less is known about how common these impacts are outside of extreme events. Existing research exploring the prevalence of psychosocial responses to climate change primarily examines university students and uses non-random sampling methods. Herein, our protocol outlines an approach to data collection, processing, and analysis to estimate the population prevalence, magnitude, and distribution of mental health responses to climate change in Canada. A cross-sectional survey of youth and adults aged 13 years and older in Canada will be administered over the course of one year. The questionnaire will take approximately 10 minutes to complete orally and will be administered in English, French, and Inuktitut. The survey will consist of six sections: (1) self-reported past experiences of climate change; (2) self-reported climate-related emotions; (3) self-reported past and current impacts, anticipatory impacts, and vicarious experiences; (4) self-reported subclinical outcomes; (5) self-reported behavioural responses; and (6) demographics. A multi-stage, multi-stratified random probability sampling method will be used to obtain a sample representative of the Canadian population. We will use two different modes of recruitment: an addressed letter sent by postal mail or a telephone call (landlines and cellular). Population-weighted descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, and weighted multivariable regression will be used to analyse the data. The results of this survey will provide the first national prevalence estimates of subclinical mental health responses to climate change outcomes of people living in Canada.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashlee Cunsolo
- School of Arctic & Subarctic Studies, Labrador Campus of Memorial University, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Canada
| | - Breanne Aylward
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Susan Clayton
- College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Kelton Minor
- Data Science Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Madison Cooper
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Rachael Vriezen
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Mouly TA, Mishra GD, Hystad P, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Knibbs LD. Residential greenspace and anxiety symptoms among Australian women living in major cities: A longitudinal analysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 179:108110. [PMID: 37607424 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Despite an increasing number of studies demonstrating the potential mental health benefits of greenspace, few longitudinal studies have been reported. We aimed to assess associations between two metrics of residential greenspace exposure and anxiety symptoms in a cohort of Australian women living in major cities. Our study comprised 3,938 women, born between 1973 and 78. Anxiety symptoms in the previous month were assessed at follow-up every three years during 2003-2018, using the anxiety subscale of the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale. The three-month seasonal average normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was estimated from 30 m Landsat satellite images in a 500 m buffer (NDVI500m) around participants' address at each survey (higher NDVI indicates more green vegetation). The annual fractional cover of non-photosynthesising vegetation was estimated (fNPV500m, with higher values indicating greater levels of dead leaf litter or dry grass). A generalised estimating equation assessed associations between greenspace measures and anxiety symptoms (as odds ratios [ORs]), adjusting for repeated outcomes and individual-level covariates. Additional analyses focused on women experiencing substantial changes in between-survey exposure due to moving, and adjusting for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure, among others. A standard deviation (SD) (0.12 units) increase in NDVI500m was significantly associated with lower odds of anxiety symptoms (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93-0.99) in the adjusted model. An SD (5.2%) increase in annual fNPV500m was consistent with the direction expected for that exposure, but not significant in the adjusted model (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.99-1.07). NDVI500m was modestly attenuated when air pollutants were adjusted for, while fNPV500m only became significant when PM2.5 was adjusted for. Between-survey contrasts had no clear effect for NDVI500m. Moving to a higher fNPV500m area, compared with a similar fNPV500m area, was consistently associated with anxiety symptoms (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.02-1.31). NDVI500m was generally associated with lower odds of anxiety symptoms, while fNPV500m was generally associated with higher odds of anxiety, depending on the covariates considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tafzila A Mouly
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Gita D Mishra
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Perry Hystad
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis Oregon, USA.
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Luke D Knibbs
- School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Public Health Research Analytics and Methods for Evidence, Public Health Unit, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Vergunst F, Berry HL, Minor K, Chadi N. Climate Change and Substance-Use Behaviors: A Risk-Pathways Framework. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023; 18:936-954. [PMID: 36441663 PMCID: PMC10336608 DOI: 10.1177/17456916221132739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is undermining the mental and physical health of global populations, but the question of how it is affecting substance-use behaviors has not been systematically examined. In this narrative synthesis, we find that climate change could increase harmful substance use worldwide through at least five pathways: psychosocial stress arising from the destabilization of social, environmental, economic, and geopolitical support systems; increased rates of mental disorders; increased physical-health burden; incremental harmful changes to established behavior patterns; and worry about the dangers of unchecked climate change. These pathways could operate independently, additively, interactively, and cumulatively to increase substance-use vulnerability. Young people face disproportionate risks because of their high vulnerability to mental-health problems and substance-use disorders and greater number of life years ahead in which to be exposed to current and worsening climate change. We suggest that systems thinking and developmental life-course approaches provide practical frameworks for conceptualizing this relationship. Further conceptual, methodological, and empirical work is urgently needed to evaluate the nature and scope of this burden so that effective adaptive and preventive action can be taken.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francis Vergunst
- Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal
- Ste-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Helen L Berry
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University
| | - Kelton Minor
- Center for Social Data Science, University of Copenhagen
- Data Science Institute, Columbia University
| | - Nicholas Chadi
- Ste-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Gwon Y, Ji Y, Bell JE, Abadi AM, Berman JD, Rau A, Leeper RD, Rennie J. The Association between Drought Exposure and Respiratory-Related Mortality in the United States from 2000 to 2018. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6076. [PMID: 37372663 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Climate change has brought increasing attention to the assessment of health risks associated with climate and extreme events. Drought is a complex climate phenomenon that has been increasing in frequency and severity both locally and globally due to climate change. However, the health risks of drought are often overlooked, especially in places such as the United States, as the pathways to health impacts are complex and indirect. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the effects of monthly drought exposure on respiratory mortality for NOAA climate regions in the United States from 2000 to 2018. A two-stage model was applied to estimate the location-specific and overall effects of respiratory risk associated with two different drought indices over two timescales (the US Drought Monitor and the 6-month and 12-month Evaporative Demand Drought Index). During moderate and severe drought exposure, respiratory mortality risk ratio in the general population increased up to 6.0% (95% Cr: 4.8 to 7.2) in the Northeast, 9.0% (95% Cr: 4.9 to 13.3) in the Northern Rockies and Plains, 5.2% (95% Cr: 3.9 to 6.5) in the Ohio Valley, 3.5% (95% Cr: 1.9 to 5.0) in the Southeast, and 15.9% (95% Cr: 10.8 to 20.4) in the Upper Midwest. Our results showed that age, ethnicity, sex (both male and female), and urbanicity (both metro and non-metro) resulted in more affected population subgroups in certain climate regions. The magnitude and direction of respiratory risk ratio differed across NOAA climate regions. These results demonstrate a need for policymakers and communities to develop more effective strategies to mitigate the effects of drought across regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeongjin Gwon
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Ji
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Jesse E Bell
- Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
- Department of Environmental Agriculture Occupational and Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Azar M Abadi
- Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Jesse D Berman
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Austin Rau
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Ronald D Leeper
- North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Jared Rennie
- NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, Asheville, NC 28801, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Chou DT, Abelama Neto E, Thomas I, Martin A, Benoit L. Climate awareness, anxiety, and actions among youth: a qualitative study in a middle-income country. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PSIQUIATRIA (SAO PAULO, BRAZIL : 1999) 2023; 45:258-267. [PMID: 37015325 PMCID: PMC10288477 DOI: 10.47626/1516-4446-2022-2890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The impact of climate change on mental health is well established, but few studies have examined the perspectives of young people, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this qualitative study, we explored how Brazilian children and adolescents experience climate change. This approach can help inform environmental education, communication, and self-care strategies for this age group. METHODS We conducted focus groups with 50 children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years in three locations in Brazil. We analyzed the data using an interpretative phenomenological analysis framework. RESULTS We identified three profiles of involvement with climate change: unaware, disengaged, and engaged. Profiles were largely related to different socioeconomic contexts. We analyzed each profile across the dimensions of space, time, emotions, and actions. Adults were portrayed by participants as stubborn deniers, as neutral influences, or as role models of knowledge and engagement. Due to their age and developmental level, young children had distinctive perceptions of climate change. CONCLUSION Spatial and temporal perceptions of climate change are a key element for experiencing and engaging with environmental concerns and vary according to age and socioeconomic differences. Effective communication to foster climate action at individual and collective levels requires narratives that reach different ages. Replication of these findings in other LMICs is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Debora Tseng Chou
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Emilio Abelama Neto
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Isaiah Thomas
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. Qualitative and Mixed Methods Lab, Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Santé des Populations (CESP), Paris, France
| | - Andrés Martin
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. Qualitative and Mixed Methods Lab, Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Santé des Populations (CESP), Paris, France
| | - Laelia Benoit
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. Qualitative and Mixed Methods Lab, Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Santé des Populations (CESP), Paris, France. Maison de Solenn, Hôpital Cochin Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France. Team DevPsy, Inserm U1018, CESP, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Woodland L, Ratwatte P, Phalkey R, Gillingham EL. Investigating the Health Impacts of Climate Change among People with Pre-Existing Mental Health Problems: A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20085563. [PMID: 37107845 PMCID: PMC10138675 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is the greatest threat to global public health, although the impacts on mental health are relatively understudied. Furthermore, there is a lack of consensus about the effects of climate change on individuals with pre-existing mental health problems. This review aimed to identify the health impacts of climate change on people with pre-existing mental health problems. The search was conducted across three databases; studies were included if they involved participants who had mental health problem(s) before a climate-driven event and reported on health outcomes post-event. A total of thirty-one studies met the full inclusion criteria. The study characteristics included 6 climate-driven events: heat events, floods, wildfires, wildfire and flood, hurricanes, and droughts, and 16 categories of pre-existing mental health problems, with depression, and non-specified mental health problems being the most common. The majority of the studies (90%, n = 28) suggest an association between the presence of pre-existing mental health problems and the likelihood of adverse health impacts (e.g., increased mortality risk, new symptom presentation, and an exacerbation of symptoms). To mitigate the exacerbation of health inequalities, people with pre-existing mental health problems should be included in adaption guidance and/or plans that mitigate the health impacts of climate change, future policy, reports, and frameworks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Woodland
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, London SE5 9RJ, UK
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emergency Preparedness and Response, King’s College London, London SE5 9RJ, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Priyanjali Ratwatte
- Climate Change and Health Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
- Behavioural Science and Insights Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Revati Phalkey
- Climate Change and Health Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Emma L. Gillingham
- Climate Change and Health Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Varshney K, Makleff S, Krishna RN, Romero L, Willems J, Wickes R, Fisher J. Mental health of vulnerable groups experiencing a drought or bushfire: A systematic review. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2023; 10:e24. [PMID: 37860103 PMCID: PMC10581865 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural hazards are increasing because of climate change, and they disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Prior reviews of the mental health consequences of natural hazard events have not focused on the particular experiences of vulnerable groups. Based on the expected increase in fires and droughts in the coming years, the aim of this systematic review is to synthesize the global evidence about the mental health of vulnerable populations after experiencing natural hazards. We searched databases such as Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Ovid PsycInfo using a systematic strategy, which yielded 3,401 publications. We identified 18 eligible studies conducted in five different countries with 15,959 participants. The most common vulnerabilities were living in a rural area, occupying a low socioeconomic position, being a member of an ethnic minority and having a medical condition. Common experiences reported by vulnerable individuals affected by drought included worry, hopelessness, isolation and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Those affected by fire reported experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anger. These mental health problems exacerbated existing health and socioeconomic challenges. The evidence base about mental health in vulnerable communities affected by natural hazards can be improved by including standardized measures and comparison groups, examining the role of intersectional vulnerabilities, and disaggregating data routinely to allow for analyses of the particular experiences of vulnerable communities. Such efforts will help ensure that programs are informed by an understanding of the unique needs of these communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karan Varshney
- Global and Women’s Health Unit, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Shelly Makleff
- Global and Women’s Health Unit, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Revathi N. Krishna
- Global and Women’s Health Unit, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Lorena Romero
- Ian Potter Library, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Julie Willems
- Global and Women’s Health Unit, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rebecca Wickes
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Brisbane, VIC, Australia
| | - Jane Fisher
- Global and Women’s Health Unit, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Heinz A, Meyer-Lindenberg A. [Climate change and mental health. Position paper of a task force of the DGPPN]. DER NERVENARZT 2023; 94:225-233. [PMID: 36820855 PMCID: PMC9992044 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-023-01457-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Climate change and the resulting higher frequency of extreme weather events have a direct negative impact on mental health. Natural disasters are particularly associated with an increase in the prevalence of depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder. Indirect consequences of climate change, such as food shortages, economic crises, violent conflicts and forced migration, additionally represent severe psychological risk and stress factors. Climate anxiety and solastalgia, the distress induced by environmental change, are new psychological syndromes in the face of the existential threat posed by the climate crisis. Accordingly, a sustainable psychiatry must prepare for increasing and changing demands. The principles of psychiatric treatment need to focus more on prevention to reduce the overall burden on the healthcare system. Waste of resources and CO2 emissions in psychiatric treatment processes as well as infrastructure must be perceived and prevented. Psychiatric education, training and continuing education concepts should be expanded to include the topic of climate change in order to comprehensively inform and sensitize professionals, those affected and the public and to encourage climate-friendly and health-promoting behavior. More in-depth research is needed on the impact of climate change on mental health. The DGPPN becomes a sponsor and aims for climate neutrality by 2030 by committing to climate-friendly and energy-saving measures in the area of finance, in relation to the DGPPN congress as well as the DGPPN office.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Heinz
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie CCM, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, Deutschland.
| | - Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, 68159, J5, Mannheim, Deutschland. .,Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde e.V., Berlin, Deutschland.
| | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Abunyewah M, Byrne MK, Keane CA, Bressington D. Developing Psychological Resilience to the Impact of Drought. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3465. [PMID: 36834159 PMCID: PMC9962658 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drought is a slow-onset natural hazard with significant socioeconomic, environmental and psychological impacts. The extant literature has predominately focused on the physical and economic dimensions of resilience, which mainly address the socioeconomic and environmental consequences of drought. However, the mental health effects of chronic environmental adversity, such as prolonged drought, remain an under-researched area, and frameworks that build and strengthen the psychological aspect of the social resilience of communities are lacking. METHODS This feasibility study will employ a mixed-method design sub-divided into three phases. Phase 1 will utilise social network analysis (SNA) to identify leadership patterns and their intersections across communities. While phase 2 will use semi-structured interviews to ascertain the perceived roles of identified leaders in preparing for and recovering from drought impacts, the third phase will adopt the Delphi method to unpack existing perceptions of control, coherence and connectedness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mitchell K. Byrne
- Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Arnout BA. An epidemiological study of mental health problems related to climate change: A procedural framework for mental health system workers. Work 2023:WOR220040. [PMID: 36710698 DOI: 10.3233/wor-220040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Arab region has witnessed different biological hazards, including cholera, yellow fever, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, changes in rainfall and increased vegetation cover led to locust outbreaks in Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. This problem still exists and affects more than 20 countries and concerns indicate food shortages and food insecurity for more than 20 million people. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to detect mental health problems related to climate change in the Arab world. METHODS A cross-sectional descriptive survey was applied to determine the prevalence of mental health problems related to climate change (MHPCC). A random sample consisted of 1080 participants (523 male and 557 female), residents in 18 Arab countries; their ages ranged from 25 to 60 years. The Mental Health Problems related to Climate Change Questionnaire (MHPCCQ) was completed online. RESULTS The results indicated average levels of MHPCC prevalence. The results also revealed no significant statistical differences in the MHPCC due to gender, educational class, and marital status except in climate anxiety; there were statistical differences in favor of married subgroup individuals. At the same time, there are statistically significant differences in the MHPCC due to the residing country variable in favor of Syria, Yemen, Algeria, Libya, and Oman regarding fears, anxiety, alienation, and somatic symptoms. In addition, Tunisia, Bahrain, Sudan, and Iraq were higher in climate depression than the other countries. CONCLUSION The findings shed light on the prevalence of MHPCC in the Arab world and oblige mental health system workers, including policymakers, mental health providers, and departments of psychology in Arab universities, to take urgent action to assess and develop the system for mental health to manage the risks of extreme climate change on the human mental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Boshra A Arnout
- Department of Psychology, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Psychology, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abstract
AIMS Not only is nature essential for human existence, but many of its functions and contributions are irreplaceable. Studying the impact of these changes on individuals and communities, researchers and public health officials have largely focused on physical health. Our aim is to better understand how climate change also exacerbates many social and environmental risk factors for mental health and psychosocial problems, and can lead to emotional distress, the development of new mental health conditions and a worsening situation for people already living with these conditions. METHODS We considered all possible direct and indirect pathways by which climate change can affect mental health. We built a framework which includes climate change-related hazards, climate change-related global environmental threats, social and environmental exposure pathways, and vulnerability factors and inequalities to derive possible mental health and psychosocial outcomes. RESULTS We identified five approaches to address the mental health and psychosocial impacts of climate change which we suggest should be implemented with urgency: (1) integrate climate change considerations into policies and programmes for mental health, to better prepare for and respond to the climate crisis; (2) integrate mental health and psychosocial support within policies and programmes dealing with climate change and health; (3) build upon global commitments including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction; (4) implement multisectoral and community-based approaches to reduce vulnerabilities and address the mental health and psychosocial impacts of climate change; and (5) address the large gaps that exist in funding both for mental health and for responding to the health impacts of climate change. CONCLUSIONS There is growing evidence of the various mechanisms by which climate change is affecting mental health. Given the human impacts of climate change, mental health and psychosocial well-being need to be one of the main focuses of climate action. Therefore, countries need to dramatically accelerate their responses to climate change, including efforts to address its impacts on mental health and psychosocial well-being.
Collapse
|
24
|
Crane K, Li L, Subramanian P, Rovit E, Liu J. Climate Change and Mental Health: A Review of Empirical Evidence, Mechanisms and Implications. ATMOSPHERE 2022; 13:2096. [PMID: 37727770 PMCID: PMC10508914 DOI: 10.3390/atmos13122096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change is an existential threat whose influences continue to increase in severity. It is pivotal to understand the implications of climate change and their effects on mental health. This integrative review aims to summarize the relevant evidence examining the harm climate change may have on mental health, suggest potential mechanisms and discuss implications. Empirical evidence has begun to indicate that negative mental health outcomes are a relevant and notable consequence of climate change. Specifically, these negative outcomes range from increased rates of psychiatric diagnoses such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder to higher measures of suicide, aggression and crime. Potential mechanisms are thought to include neuroinflammatory responses to stress, maladaptive serotonergic receptors and detrimental effects on one's own physical health, as well as the community wellbeing. While climate change and mental health are salient areas of research, the evidence examining an association is limited. Therefore, further work should be conducted to delineate exact pathways of action to explain the mediators and mechanisms of the interaction between climate change and mental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katelin Crane
- School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Linda Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Pearl Subramanian
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
| | - Elizabeth Rovit
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Jianghong Liu
- School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Romanello M, Di Napoli C, Drummond P, Green C, Kennard H, Lampard P, Scamman D, Arnell N, Ayeb-Karlsson S, Ford LB, Belesova K, Bowen K, Cai W, Callaghan M, Campbell-Lendrum D, Chambers J, van Daalen KR, Dalin C, Dasandi N, Dasgupta S, Davies M, Dominguez-Salas P, Dubrow R, Ebi KL, Eckelman M, Ekins P, Escobar LE, Georgeson L, Graham H, Gunther SH, Hamilton I, Hang Y, Hänninen R, Hartinger S, He K, Hess JJ, Hsu SC, Jankin S, Jamart L, Jay O, Kelman I, Kiesewetter G, Kinney P, Kjellstrom T, Kniveton D, Lee JKW, Lemke B, Liu Y, Liu Z, Lott M, Batista ML, Lowe R, MacGuire F, Sewe MO, Martinez-Urtaza J, Maslin M, McAllister L, McGushin A, McMichael C, Mi Z, Milner J, Minor K, Minx JC, Mohajeri N, Moradi-Lakeh M, Morrissey K, Munzert S, Murray KA, Neville T, Nilsson M, Obradovich N, O'Hare MB, Oreszczyn T, Otto M, Owfi F, Pearman O, Rabbaniha M, Robinson EJZ, Rocklöv J, Salas RN, Semenza JC, Sherman JD, Shi L, Shumake-Guillemot J, Silbert G, Sofiev M, Springmann M, Stowell J, Tabatabaei M, Taylor J, Triñanes J, Wagner F, Wilkinson P, Winning M, Yglesias-González M, Zhang S, Gong P, Montgomery H, Costello A. The 2022 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: health at the mercy of fossil fuels. Lancet 2022; 400:1619-1654. [PMID: 36306815 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(22)01540-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 313] [Impact Index Per Article: 156.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Romanello
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Claudia Di Napoli
- School of Agriculture Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Paul Drummond
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, UK
| | - Carole Green
- Department of Global Health, Centre for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Harry Kennard
- UCL Energy Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Pete Lampard
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Daniel Scamman
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nigel Arnell
- Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson
- Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Kristine Belesova
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kathryn Bowen
- School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Wenjia Cai
- Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Max Callaghan
- Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, Berlin, Germany
| | - Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum
- Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan Chambers
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kim R van Daalen
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carole Dalin
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, UK
| | - Niheer Dasandi
- School of Government, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Shouro Dasgupta
- Economic Analysis of Climate Impacts and Policy Division, Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Venice, Italy
| | - Michael Davies
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Robert Dubrow
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kristie L Ebi
- Department of Global Health, Centre for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Matthew Eckelman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul Ekins
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, UK
| | - Luis E Escobar
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | | | - Hilary Graham
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Samuel H Gunther
- NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ian Hamilton
- UCL Energy Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Yun Hang
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Stella Hartinger
- Facultad de Salud Publica y Administracion, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Kehan He
- Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jeremy J Hess
- Department of Global Health, Centre for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shih-Che Hsu
- UCL Energy Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Slava Jankin
- Data Science Lab, Hertie School, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Ollie Jay
- Heat and Health Research Incubator, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Ilan Kelman
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Patrick Kinney
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tord Kjellstrom
- Health and Environmental International Trust, Nelson, New Zealand
| | | | - Jason K W Lee
- NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bruno Lemke
- School of Health, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Nelson, New Zealand
| | - Yang Liu
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Zhao Liu
- Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Melissa Lott
- Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases Programme, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Martin Lotto Batista
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Centro Nacional de Supercomputacion, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rachel Lowe
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies and Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Frances MacGuire
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Maquins Odhiambo Sewe
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Mark Maslin
- Department of Geography, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lucy McAllister
- Center for Energy Markets, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alice McGushin
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Celia McMichael
- School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Zhifu Mi
- Barlett School of Sustainable Construction, University of London, London, UK
| | - James Milner
- Department of Public Health, Environment, and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kelton Minor
- Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan C Minx
- Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nahid Mohajeri
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Maziar Moradi-Lakeh
- Preventative Medicine and Public Health Research Centre, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Karyn Morrissey
- Department of Technology, Management and Economics Sustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Kris A Murray
- MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Tara Neville
- Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maria Nilsson
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Nick Obradovich
- Centre for Humans and Machines, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Megan B O'Hare
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tadj Oreszczyn
- UCL Energy Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Matthias Otto
- Department of Arts, Media, and Digital Technologies, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Nelson, New Zealand
| | - Fereidoon Owfi
- Iranian Fisheries Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organisation, Tehran, Iran
| | - Olivia Pearman
- Cooperative Institute of Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Mahnaz Rabbaniha
- Iranian Fisheries Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organisation, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elizabeth J Z Robinson
- Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Joacim Rocklöv
- Heidelberg Institute for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Centre forScientific Computing, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Renee N Salas
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jan C Semenza
- Heidelberg Institute for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Centre forScientific Computing, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jodi D Sherman
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Liuhua Shi
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Grant Silbert
- Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Marco Springmann
- Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jennifer Stowell
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Meisam Tabatabaei
- Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Jonathon Taylor
- Department of Civil Engineering, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Joaquin Triñanes
- Department of Electronics and Computer Science, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain
| | - Fabian Wagner
- Energy, Climate, and Environment Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Paul Wilkinson
- Department of Public Health, Environment, and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Matthew Winning
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, UK
| | - Marisol Yglesias-González
- Centro Latinoamericano de Excelencia en Cambio Climático y Salud, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Shihui Zhang
- Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Gong
- Department of Geography, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Hugh Montgomery
- Centre for Human Health and Performance, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anthony Costello
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Abadi AM, Gwon Y, Gribble MO, Berman JD, Bilotta R, Hobbins M, Bell JE. Drought and all-cause mortality in Nebraska from 1980 to 2014: Time-series analyses by age, sex, race, urbanicity and drought severity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 840:156660. [PMID: 35710006 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change will increase drought duration and severity in many regions around the world, including the Central Plains of North America. However, studies on drought-related health impacts are still sparse. This study aims to explore the potential associations between drought and all-cause mortality in Nebraska from 1980 to 2014. METHODS The Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI) were used to define short-, medium- and long-term drought exposures, respectively. We used a Bayesian zero-inflated censored negative binomial (ZICNB) regression model to estimate the overall association between drought and annual mortality first in the total population and second in stratified sub-populations based on age, race, sex, and the urbanicity class of the counties. RESULTS The main findings indicate that there is a slightly negative association between all-cause mortality and all types of droughts in the total population, though the effect is statistically null. The joint-stratified analysis renders significant results for a few sub-groups. White population aged 25-34 and 45-64 in metro counties and 45-54 in non-metro counties were the population more at risk in Nebraska. No positive associations were observed in any race besides white. Black males aged 20-24 and white females older than 85 showed protective effect against drought mainly in metro counties. We also found that more sub-populations had higher rates of mortality with longer-term droughts compared to shorter-term droughts (12-month vs 1- or 6-month timescales), in both metro and non-metro counties, collectively. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that mortality in middle aged white population in Nebraska shows a greater association with drought. Moreover, women aged 45-54 were more affected than men in non-metro counties. With a projected increase in the frequency and severity of drought due to climate change, understanding these relationships between drought and human health will better inform drought mitigation planning to reduce potential impacts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Azar M Abadi
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA.
| | - Yeongjin Gwon
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Matthew O Gribble
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - Jesse D Berman
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Rocky Bilotta
- ISciences, L.L.C. and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's National Centers for Environmental Information, Asheville, NC, USA.
| | - Mike Hobbins
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA.
| | - Jesse E Bell
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA; School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Libey A, Kebede A, Ibrahim J, Hutchings P, Mekonta L, Butterworth J, Thomas E. Surveyed from Afar: Household water security, emotional well-being, and the reliability of water supply in the Ethiopian lowlands. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 246:114059. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
28
|
Binder MJ, Beks H, Versace VL, Macdonald J, Mckay C, Cunningham S, Wall G, Barnes K, Cornell S, Cock M, Kennedy A, Namara KM. Participant perspectives of an online co-design process to develop a prevention-focused mental health and well-being platform for primary producers. Aust J Rural Health 2022; 30:719-729. [PMID: 36018893 PMCID: PMC10087507 DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore participant experiences of an online co-design process to develop a web-based preventative mental health and well-being intervention targeting primary producers in rural Australia. SETTING Rural Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS Participants from a primary producer background, including horticulture, fisheries, animal cultivation and farm consultancy, were eligible for the study if they had participated in both the co-design and beta testing processes for a primary producer platform. DESIGN A qualitative study using semi-structured phone-based interviews was undertaken. A reflexive inductive approach to data analysis was employed to develop themes. RESULTS Eleven participants were interviewed, with an average age of 51 years, of which 7 were female. Five main themes were developed. These included: (1) participant diversity, (2) impact of online delivery on co-design participation, (3) experiences of the co-design process, (4) maintaining a shared vision and goals and (5) acting on the co-design recommendations. Use of online methods was a clear enabler to engage participants who were geographically dispersed and offers an alternative to more conventional approaches to co-design using face-to-face methods. Some aspects of participant engagement may need a greater focus when conducted online compared with face-to-face. CONCLUSIONS Using an online co-design method to develop a preventative mental health and well-being web-based platform for primary producers was novel. Findings address a gap in the literature around the experience of participants engaging in a co-design process and identify opportunities to improve participant engagement and experience with the online format.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marley J Binder
- Deakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Warrnambool, Vic., Australia
| | - Hannah Beks
- Deakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Warrnambool, Vic., Australia
| | - Vincent L Versace
- Deakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Warrnambool, Vic., Australia
| | - Joanna Macdonald
- National Centre for Farmer Health, Deakin University, Hamilton, Vic., Australia
| | - Claire Mckay
- National Centre for Farmer Health, Deakin University, Hamilton, Vic., Australia
| | - Sally Cunningham
- National Centre for Farmer Health, Deakin University, Hamilton, Vic., Australia
| | | | | | - Sarah Cornell
- GippsDairy, Dairy Australia, Warragul, Vic., Australia
| | - Malcolm Cock
- Farm Dynamics Consulting, Leongatha, Vic., Australia
| | - Alison Kennedy
- National Centre for Farmer Health, Deakin University, Hamilton, Vic., Australia
| | - Kevin Mc Namara
- Deakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Warrnambool, Vic., Australia
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Lawrance EL, Thompson R, Newberry Le Vay J, Page L, Jennings N. The Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence, and its Implications. Int Rev Psychiatry 2022; 34:443-498. [PMID: 36165756 DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2022.2128725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Converging global evidence highlights the dire consequences of climate change for human mental health and wellbeing. This paper summarises literature across relevant disciplines to provide a comprehensive narrative review of the multiple pathways through which climate change interacts with mental health and wellbeing. Climate change acts as a risk amplifier by disrupting the conditions known to support good mental health, including socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions, and living and working conditions. The disruptive influence of rising global temperatures and extreme weather events, such as experiencing a heatwave or water insecurity, compounds existing stressors experienced by individuals and communities. This has deleterious effects on people's mental health and is particularly acute for those groups already disadvantaged within and across countries. Awareness and experiences of escalating climate threats and climate inaction can generate understandable psychological distress; though strong emotional responses can also motivate climate action. We highlight opportunities to support individuals and communities to cope with and act on climate change. Consideration of the multiple and interconnected pathways of climate impacts and their influence on mental health determinants must inform evidence-based interventions. Appropriate action that centres climate justice can reduce the current and future mental health burden, while simultaneously improving the conditions that nurture wellbeing and equality. The presented evidence adds further weight to the need for decisive climate action by decision makers across all scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Lawrance
- Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, UK.,Mental Health Innovations, UK.,Grantham Institute of Climate and the Environment, Imperial College London, UK
| | | | | | - Lisa Page
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, UK
| | - Neil Jennings
- Grantham Institute of Climate and the Environment, Imperial College London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
The Wither or Thrive Model of Resilience: an Integrative Framework of Dynamic Vulnerability and Resilience in the Face of Repeated Stressors During the COVID-19 Pandemic. ADVERSITY AND RESILIENCE SCIENCE 2022; 3:261-282. [PMID: 35856054 PMCID: PMC9281234 DOI: 10.1007/s42844-022-00069-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
During the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, empirical efforts in the psychological sciences have been unequivocally focused on understanding the psychosocial impact on resilience and vulnerability. While current empirical work is guided by different existing theoretical models of resilience and vulnerability, the emerging datasets have also pointed to a necessity for an update of these models. Due to the unique features and developments specific to the current pandemic such as the occurrence of repeated collective stressors of varying durations, in the current position paper, we introduce the Wither or Thrive model of Resilience (With:Resilience). It integrates key aspects of prevailing psychological resilience frameworks within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and extends them by (1) moving away from single scale approaches towards a higher-order latent expression of resilience and vulnerability incorporating also non-clinical mental health markers, (2) proposing different trajectories of resilience-vulnerability emerging across repeated stressors over long periods of time, and (3) by incorporating multiple influencing factors including aspects of the socio-economic concept of social cohesion as well as separate mediating processing mechanisms. We propose that With:Resilience will enable a more nuanced approach and appropriate analytical investigation of the vast incoming data on mental health and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we suggest some concrete methodological approaches. This framework will assist in the development of actionable public health guidelines for society in the present and future pandemic contexts as well as aid policy making and the interventional sciences aimed at protecting the most vulnerable amongst us.
Collapse
|
31
|
Shimonovich M, Pearce A, Thomson H, Katikireddi SV. Causal assessment in evidence synthesis: A methodological review of reviews. Res Synth Methods 2022; 13:405-423. [PMID: 35560730 PMCID: PMC9543433 DOI: 10.1002/jrsm.1569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In fields (such as population health) where randomised trials are often lacking, systematic reviews (SRs) can harness diversity in study design, settings and populations to assess the evidence for a putative causal relationship. SRs may incorporate causal assessment approaches (CAAs), sometimes called 'causal reviews', but there is currently no consensus on how these should be conducted. We conducted a methodological review of self-identifying 'causal reviews' within the field of population health to establish: (1) which CAAs are used; (2) differences in how CAAs are implemented; (3) how methods were modified to incorporate causal assessment in SRs. Three databases were searched and two independent reviewers selected reviews for inclusion. Data were extracted using a standardised form and summarised using tabulation and narratively. Fifty-three reviews incorporated CAAs: 46/53 applied Bradford Hill (BH) viewpoints/criteria, with the remainder taking alternative approaches: Medical Research Council guidance on natural experiments (2/53, 3.8%); realist reviews (2/53, 3.8%); horizontal SRs (1/53, 1.9%); 'sign test' of causal mechanisms (1/53, 1.9%); and a causal cascade model (1/53, 1.9%). Though most SRs incorporated BH, there was variation in application and transparency. There was considerable overlap across the CAAs, with a trade-off between breadth (BH viewpoints considered a greater range of causal characteristics) and depth (many alternative CAAs focused on one viewpoint). Improved transparency in the implementation of CAA in SRs in needed to ensure their validity and allow robust assessments of causality within evidence synthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michal Shimonovich
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences UnitUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Anna Pearce
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences UnitUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Hilary Thomson
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences UnitUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Massazza A, Teyton A, Charlson F, Benmarhnia T, Augustinavicius JL. Quantitative methods for climate change and mental health research: current trends and future directions. Lancet Planet Health 2022; 6:e613-e627. [PMID: 35809589 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00120-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The quantitative literature on climate change and mental health is growing rapidly. However, the methodological quality of the evidence is heterogeneous, and there is scope for methodological improvement and innovation. The first section of this Personal View provides a snapshot of current methodological trends and issues in the quantitative literature on climate change and mental health, drawing on literature collected through a previous scoping review. The second part of this Personal View outlines opportunities for methodological innovation concerning the assessment of the relationship between climate change and mental health. We then highlight possible methodological innovations in intervention research and in the measurement of climate change and mental health-related variables. This section draws upon methods from public mental health, environmental epidemiology, and other fields. The objective is not to provide a detailed description of different methodological techniques, but rather to highlight opportunities to use diverse methods, collaborate across disciplines, and inspire methodological innovation. The reader will be referred to practical guidance on different methods when available. We hope this Personal View will constitute a roadmap and launching pad for methodological innovation for researchers interested in investigating a rapidly growing area of research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Massazza
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Anaïs Teyton
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA; School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Fiona Charlson
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tarik Benmarhnia
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Climate Change, Drought and Rural Suicide in New South Wales, Australia: Future Impact Scenario Projections to 2099. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137855. [PMID: 35805514 PMCID: PMC9266200 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Mental health problems are associated with droughts, and suicide is one of the most tragic outcomes. We estimated the numbers of suicides attributable to drought under possible climate change scenarios for the future years until 2099, based on the historical baseline period 1970–2007. Drought and rural suicide data from the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) were analyzed for the baseline data period. Three global climate models and two representative concentration pathways were used to assess the range of potential future outcomes. Drought-related suicides increased among rural men aged 10–29 and 30–49 yrs in all modelled climate change scenarios. Rural males aged over 50 yrs and young rural females (10–29) showed no increased suicide risk, whereas decreased suicide rates were predicted for rural women of 30–49 and 50-plus years of age, suggesting resilience (according to the baseline historical relationship in those population sub-groups). No association between suicide and drought was identified in urban populations in the baseline data. Australian droughts are expected to increase in duration and intensity as climate change progresses. Hence, estimates of impacts, such as increased rural suicide rates, can inform mitigation and adaptation strategies that will help prepare communities for the effects of climate change.
Collapse
|
34
|
Antoniou M, Estival D, Lam-Cassettari C, Li W, Dwyer A, Neto ADA. Predicting Mental Health Status in Remote and Rural Farming Communities: Computational Analysis of Text-Based Counseling. JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e33036. [PMID: 35727623 PMCID: PMC9257613 DOI: 10.2196/33036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Australians living in rural and remote areas are at elevated risk of mental health problems and must overcome barriers to help seeking, such as poor access, stigma, and entrenched stoicism. e-Mental health services circumvent such barriers using technology, and text-based services are particularly well suited to clients concerned with privacy and self-presentation. They allow the client to reflect on the therapy session after it has ended as the chat log is stored on their device. The text also offers researchers an opportunity to analyze language use patterns and explore how these relate to mental health status. Objective In this project, we investigated whether computational linguistic techniques can be applied to text-based communications with the goal of identifying a client’s mental health status. Methods Client-therapist text messages were analyzed using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count tool. We examined whether the resulting word counts related to the participants’ presenting problems or their self-ratings of mental health at the completion of counseling. Results The results confirmed that word use patterns could be used to differentiate whether a client had one of the top 3 presenting problems (depression, anxiety, or stress) and, prospectively, to predict their self-rated mental health after counseling had been completed. Conclusions These findings suggest that language use patterns are useful for both researchers and clinicians trying to identify individuals at risk of mental health problems, with potential applications in screening and targeted intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Antoniou
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Dominique Estival
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Christa Lam-Cassettari
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Weicong Li
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Anne Dwyer
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Belova A, Gould CA, Munson K, Howell M, Trevisan C, Obradovich N, Martinich J. Projecting the Suicide Burden of Climate Change in the United States. GEOHEALTH 2022. [PMID: 35582318 DOI: 10.23719/1524370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
We quantify and monetize changes in suicide incidence across the conterminous United States (U.S.) in response to increasing levels of warming. We develop an integrated health impact assessment model using binned and linear specifications of temperature-suicide relationship estimates from Mullins and White (2019), in combination with monthly age- and sex-specific baseline suicide incidence rates, projections of six climate models, and population projections at the conterminous U.S. county scale. We evaluate the difference in the annual number of suicides in the U.S. corresponding to 1-6°C of warming compared to 1986-2005 average temperatures (mean U.S. temperatures) and compute 2015 population attributable fractions (PAFs). We use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Value of a Statistical Life to estimate the economic value of avoiding these mortality impacts. Assuming the 2015 population size, warming of 1-6°C could result in an annual increase of 283-1,660 additional suicide cases, corresponding to a PAF of 0.7%-4.1%. The annual economic value of avoiding these impacts is $2 billion-$3 billion (2015 U.S. dollars, 3% discount rate, and 2015 income level). Estimates based on linear temperature-suicide relationship specifications are 7% larger than those based on binned temperature specifications. Accounting for displacement decreases estimates by 17%, while accounting for precipitation decreases estimates by 7%. Population growth between 2015 and the future warming degree arrival year increases estimates by 15%-38%. Further research is needed to quantify and monetize other climate-related mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety and depression) and to characterize these risks in socially vulnerable populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Caitlin A Gould
- Climate Change Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington DC USA
| | | | | | | | - Nick Obradovich
- Center for Humans and Machines Max Planck Institute for Human Development Berlin Germany
| | - Jeremy Martinich
- Climate Change Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington DC USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Belova A, Gould CA, Munson K, Howell M, Trevisan C, Obradovich N, Martinich J. Projecting the Suicide Burden of Climate Change in the United States. GEOHEALTH 2022; 6:e2021GH000580. [PMID: 35582318 PMCID: PMC9089437 DOI: 10.1029/2021gh000580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We quantify and monetize changes in suicide incidence across the conterminous United States (U.S.) in response to increasing levels of warming. We develop an integrated health impact assessment model using binned and linear specifications of temperature-suicide relationship estimates from Mullins and White (2019), in combination with monthly age- and sex-specific baseline suicide incidence rates, projections of six climate models, and population projections at the conterminous U.S. county scale. We evaluate the difference in the annual number of suicides in the U.S. corresponding to 1-6°C of warming compared to 1986-2005 average temperatures (mean U.S. temperatures) and compute 2015 population attributable fractions (PAFs). We use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Value of a Statistical Life to estimate the economic value of avoiding these mortality impacts. Assuming the 2015 population size, warming of 1-6°C could result in an annual increase of 283-1,660 additional suicide cases, corresponding to a PAF of 0.7%-4.1%. The annual economic value of avoiding these impacts is $2 billion-$3 billion (2015 U.S. dollars, 3% discount rate, and 2015 income level). Estimates based on linear temperature-suicide relationship specifications are 7% larger than those based on binned temperature specifications. Accounting for displacement decreases estimates by 17%, while accounting for precipitation decreases estimates by 7%. Population growth between 2015 and the future warming degree arrival year increases estimates by 15%-38%. Further research is needed to quantify and monetize other climate-related mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety and depression) and to characterize these risks in socially vulnerable populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Caitlin A. Gould
- Climate Change DivisionU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyWashingtonDCUSA
| | | | | | | | - Nick Obradovich
- Center for Humans and MachinesMax Planck Institute for Human DevelopmentBerlinGermany
| | - Jeremy Martinich
- Climate Change DivisionU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyWashingtonDCUSA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Belova A, Gould CA, Munson K, Howell M, Trevisan C, Obradovich N, Martinich J. Projecting the Suicide Burden of Climate Change in the United States. GEOHEALTH 2022. [PMID: 35582318 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6096271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
We quantify and monetize changes in suicide incidence across the conterminous United States (U.S.) in response to increasing levels of warming. We develop an integrated health impact assessment model using binned and linear specifications of temperature-suicide relationship estimates from Mullins and White (2019), in combination with monthly age- and sex-specific baseline suicide incidence rates, projections of six climate models, and population projections at the conterminous U.S. county scale. We evaluate the difference in the annual number of suicides in the U.S. corresponding to 1-6°C of warming compared to 1986-2005 average temperatures (mean U.S. temperatures) and compute 2015 population attributable fractions (PAFs). We use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Value of a Statistical Life to estimate the economic value of avoiding these mortality impacts. Assuming the 2015 population size, warming of 1-6°C could result in an annual increase of 283-1,660 additional suicide cases, corresponding to a PAF of 0.7%-4.1%. The annual economic value of avoiding these impacts is $2 billion-$3 billion (2015 U.S. dollars, 3% discount rate, and 2015 income level). Estimates based on linear temperature-suicide relationship specifications are 7% larger than those based on binned temperature specifications. Accounting for displacement decreases estimates by 17%, while accounting for precipitation decreases estimates by 7%. Population growth between 2015 and the future warming degree arrival year increases estimates by 15%-38%. Further research is needed to quantify and monetize other climate-related mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety and depression) and to characterize these risks in socially vulnerable populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Caitlin A Gould
- Climate Change Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington DC USA
| | | | | | | | - Nick Obradovich
- Center for Humans and Machines Max Planck Institute for Human Development Berlin Germany
| | - Jeremy Martinich
- Climate Change Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington DC USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Jalalzadeh Fard B, Puvvula J, Bell JE. Evaluating Changes in Health Risk from Drought over the Contiguous United States. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:4628. [PMID: 35457515 PMCID: PMC9031499 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The outcomes of drought can be difficult to assess due to the complexity of its effects. While most risk assessments of drought are developed for agriculture or water resources, the associations with human health are not well studied due to unclear and complex pathways. This study is the first to assess potential changes in health risk from droughts during the last decade in the contiguous United States. To assess the risk, we spatially superimposed vulnerability variables associated with drought on historical drought exposure over the last decade. Different variations in Local Moran's I statistics were used to assess the spatial distribution of health vulnerability, risk of drought, and changes in the two five-year study periods (2010-2014 and 2015-2019). Our results show large clusters of the western United States had a significant increase in risk during the latter part of the study period due to increases in vulnerability and hazard. In addition, southern areas of the United States were consistently above the national average in drought risk. Since our vulnerability variables include agriculture, drinking water, and sociodemographic indicators, the results of this study can help various experts interested in drought preparedness efforts associated with human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Babak Jalalzadeh Fard
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (J.P.); (J.E.B.)
| | - Jagadeesh Puvvula
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (J.P.); (J.E.B.)
| | - Jesse E. Bell
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (J.P.); (J.E.B.)
- Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Orievulu KS, Ayeb-Karlsson S, Ngema S, Baisley K, Tanser F, Ngwenya N, Seeley J, Hanekom W, Herbst K, Kniveton D, Iwuji CC. Exploring linkages between drought and HIV treatment adherence in Africa: a systematic review. Lancet Planet Health 2022; 6:e359-e370. [PMID: 35397224 PMCID: PMC7612934 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00016-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is directly and indirectly linked to human health, including through access to treatment and care. Our systematic review presents a systems understanding of the nexus between drought and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence in HIV-positive individuals in the African setting. Narrative synthesis of 111 studies retrieved from Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, and PsycINFO suggests that livelihoods and economic conditions, comorbidities and ART regimens, human mobility, and psychobehavioural dispositions and support systems interact in complex ways in the drought-ART adherence nexus in Africa. Economic and livelihood-related challenges appear to impose the strongest impact on human interactions, actions, and systems that culminate in non-adherence. Indeed, the complex pathways identified by our systems approach emphasise the need for more integrated research approaches to understanding this phenomenon and developing interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kingsley Stephen Orievulu
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK; United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany; Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, London, UK; School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Sthembile Ngema
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Kathy Baisley
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Frank Tanser
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Lincoln Institute for Health, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
| | - Nothando Ngwenya
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Janet Seeley
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Global Health and Development Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Willem Hanekom
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kobus Herbst
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; DSI-MRC South African Population Research Infrastructure Network, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Collins C Iwuji
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Batterham PJ, Brown K, Trias A, Poyser C, Kazan D, Calear AL. Systematic review of quantitative studies assessing the relationship between environment and mental health in rural areas. Aust J Rural Health 2022; 30:306-320. [PMID: 35189016 PMCID: PMC9303895 DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Physical and natural environments might strongly influence mental health and well-being. Many studies have examined this relationship in urban environments, with fewer focused on rural settings. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise quantitative evidence for the relationship between environmental factors (drought, climate and extreme weather events, land use/environmental degradation, green space/vegetation, engagement in natural resource management activities) and mental health or well-being in rural areas. DESIGN Following a systematic search of three databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE and Web of Science), 4368 articles were identified, of which 28 met eligibility criteria for inclusion in the review. RESULTS Poorer mental health and well-being was typically found to have an association with extreme climate or weather events and environmental degradation. The observed relationships were largely assessed at area-wide or community levels. CONCLUSIONS Studies examining the relationship between the environmental condition of land and mental health at an individual level, particularly within farms, are lacking. Addressing this gap in research requires interdisciplinary expertise and diverse methodology. Few studies examined the effects of natural resource management practices/principles or biodiversity on mental health. While there is evidence that extreme climate or weather events have a negative impact on mental health in rural areas, there remain considerable gaps in our knowledge of how rural environments influence mental health and well-being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Kimberly Brown
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Angelica Trias
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Carmel Poyser
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Dominique Kazan
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Charlson F, Ali S, Augustinavicius J, Benmarhnia T, Birch S, Clayton S, Fielding K, Jones L, Juma D, Snider L, Ugo V, Zeitz L, Jayawardana D, La Nauze A, Massazza A. Global priorities for climate change and mental health research. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106984. [PMID: 34991246 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Compared with other health areas, the mental health impacts of climate change have received less research attention. The literature on climate change and mental health is growing rapidly but is characterised by several limitations and research gaps. In a field where the need for designing evidence-based adaptation strategies is urgent, and research gaps are vast, implementing a broad, all-encompassing research agenda will require some strategic focus. METHODS We followed a structured approach to prioritise future climate change and mental health research. We consulted with experts working across mental health and climate change, both within and outside of research and working in high, middle, and low-income countries, to garner consensus about the future research priorities for mental health and climate change. Experts were identified based on whether they had published work on climate change and mental health, worked in governmental and non-governmental organisations on climate change and mental health, and from the professional networks of the authors who have been active in the mental health and climate change space. RESULTS Twenty-two experts participated from across low- and middle-income countries (n = 4) and high-income countries (n = 18). Our process identified ten key priorities for progressing research on mental health and climate change. CONCLUSION While climate change is considered the biggest threat to global mental health in the coming century, tackling this threat could be the most significant opportunity to shape our mental health for centuries to come because of health co-benefits of transitioning to more sustainable ways of living. Research on the impacts of climate change on mental health and mental health-related systems will assist decision-makers to develop robust evidence-based mitigation and adaptation policies and plans with the potential for broad benefits to society and the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Charlson
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Wacol, Qld, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Qld, Australia; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Suhailah Ali
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Wacol, Qld, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Qld, Australia
| | - Jura Augustinavicius
- School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; MHPSS Collaborative hosted by Save the Children Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tarik Benmarhnia
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, USA
| | - Stephen Birch
- Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | | | - Kelly Fielding
- School of Communication and Arts, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Lynne Jones
- FXB Centre for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Damian Juma
- International Mental Health Association, USA
| | - Leslie Snider
- MHPSS Collaborative hosted by Save the Children Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Victor Ugo
- MHPSS Collaborative hosted by Save the Children Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Danusha Jayawardana
- Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Andrea La Nauze
- School of Economics, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Alessandro Massazza
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Fuller MG, Cavanaugh N, Green S, Duderstadt K. Climate Change and State of the Science for Children's Health and Environmental Health Equity. J Pediatr Health Care 2022; 36:20-26. [PMID: 34493406 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Climate change is impacting the physical and mental health of children and families. This is a state of the science update regarding the impacts of climate change for pediatric-focused health care providers and advanced practice registered nurses. METHOD Using an equity lens, the authors reviewed and synthesized current literature regarding the adverse impacts of climate change. RESULTS The poor and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by climate change. Physical health impacts include increased vector and water-born infectious diseases, increases in asthma and respiratory infections, and undernutrition. Social disruptions lead to human trafficking. Climate change is associated with mental health concerns, including anxiety and posttraumatic stress after natural disasters. DISCUSSION As clinicians, pediatric-focused providers, and advanced practice registered nurses should use multipronged and interdisciplinary approaches to address or prevent the adverse impacts of climate change. Advocacy at all government levels is necessary to safeguard children and vulnerable populations.
Collapse
|
43
|
Orievulu K, Ayeb-Karlsson S, Ngwenya N, Ngema S, McGregor H, Adeagbo O, Siedner MJ, Hanekom W, Kniveton D, Seeley J, Iwuji C. Economic, social and demographic impacts of drought on treatment adherence among people living with HIV in rural South Africa: A qualitative analysis. CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT 2022; 36:100423. [PMID: 36923966 PMCID: PMC7614312 DOI: 10.1016/j.crm.2022.100423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The 2015 El Niño-triggered drought in Southern Africa caused widespread economic and livelihood disruption in South Africa, imposing multiple physical and health challenges for rural populations including people living with HIV (PLHIV). We examined the economic, social and demographic impacts of drought drawing on 27 in-depth interviews in two cohorts of PLHIV in Hlabisa, uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal. Thematic analysis revealed how drought-enforced soil water depletion, dried-up rivers, and dams culminated in a continuum of events such as loss of livestock, reduced agricultural production, and insufficient access to water and food which was understood to indirectly have a negative impact on HIV treatment adherence. This was mediated through disruptions in incomes, livelihoods and food systems, increased risk to general health, forced mobility and exacerbation of contextual vulnerabilities linked to poverty and unemployment. The systems approach, drawn from interview themes, hypothesises the complex pathways of plausible networks of impacts from drought through varying socioeconomic factors, exacerbating longstanding contextual precarity, and ultimately challenging HIV care utilisation. Understanding the multidimensional relationships between climate change, especially drought, and poor HIV care outcomes through the prism of contextual vulnerabilities is vital for shaping policy interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kingsley Orievulu
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
- Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
- United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany
- Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sthembile Ngema
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | | | - Oluwafemi Adeagbo
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Health Promotion, Education & Behaviour, University of South Carolina, USA
- Department of Sociology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mark J. Siedner
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Willem Hanekom
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Janet Seeley
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Global Health and Development Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Collins Iwuji
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Safarpour H, Sohrabizadeh S, Malekyan L, Safi-Keykaleh M, Pirani D, Daliri S, Bazyar J. Suicide Death Rate after Disasters: A Meta-Analysis Study. Arch Suicide Res 2022; 26:14-27. [PMID: 32674715 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2020.1793045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disasters have undesirable effects on health among individuals such as psychosocial disorders which may lead lead to suicide in some cases. Thus, the present study aimed to measure the rate of suicide death after disasters all over the world. METHODS In the present meta-analysis study, all of the articles published in English until the end of 2019 were probed in electronic databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and Google Scholar. Then, the data were imported to STATA ver.13 software and analyzed through fixed- and random-effects models, meta-regression, and Cochrane statistical tests. RESULTS A total of 11 studies including a sample size of 65495867 were considered. Suicide death rates before and after the disasters were calculated as 13.61 (CI95%: 11.59-15.77) vs. 16.68 (CI95%: 14.5-19:0) among the whole population, 28.36 (CI 95%:11.29-45.43) vs. 32.17 (CI95%: 17.71-46.62) among men, and 12.71 (CI95%: 5.98-19.44) vs 12.69 (CI95%: 5.17-20.21) among women. The rate of suicide death significantly increased in the whole population and men, while no significant difference was reported among women. CONCLUSION Suicide death rate increases after disasters indicating the destructive impact of this phenomenon on peoples' health. Therefore, implementing supportive and interventional measures is highly suggested after disasters in order to prevent suicide death among the affected people.
Collapse
|
45
|
Orievulu KS, Iwuji CC. Institutional Responses to Drought in a High HIV Prevalence Setting in Rural South Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 19:434. [PMID: 35010691 PMCID: PMC8744984 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In 2015, South Africa experienced one of the worst (El Niño-induced) droughts in 35 years. This affected economic activities, individual and community livelihoods and wellbeing especially in rural communities in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Drought's direct and indirect impacts on public health require urgent institutional responses, especially in South Africa's stride to eliminate HIV as a public health threat by 2030 in line with the UNAIDS goals. This paper draws on qualitative data from interviews and policy documents to discuss how the devastating effect of the 2015 drought experience in the rural Hlabisa sub-district of uMkhanyakude, a high HIV prevalence area, imposes an imperative for more proactive institutional responses to drought and other climate-related events capable of derailing progress made in South Africa's HIV/AIDS response. We found that drought had a negative impact on individual and community livelihoods and made it more difficult for people living with HIV to consistently engage with care due to economic losses from deaths of livestock, crop failure, food insecurity, time spent in search of appropriate water sources and forced relocations. It also affected government institutions and their interventions. Interviewed participants' reflections on drought-related challenges, especially those related to institutional and coordination challenges, showed that although current policy frameworks are robust, their implementation has been stalled due to complex reporting systems, and inadequate interdepartmental collaboration and information sharing. We thus argue that to address the gaps in the institutional responses, there is a need for more inclusive systems of drought-relief implementation, in which government departments, especially at the provincial and district levels, work with national institutions to better share data/information about drought-risks in order to improve preparedness and implementation of effective mitigation measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kingsley S. Orievulu
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba 3935, South Africa;
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9PX, UK
- Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
| | - Collins C. Iwuji
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba 3935, South Africa;
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9PX, UK
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Berman JD, Ramirez MR, Bell JE, Bilotta R, Gerr F, Fethke NB. The association between drought conditions and increased occupational psychosocial stress among U.S. farmers: An occupational cohort study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 798:149245. [PMID: 34320456 PMCID: PMC9940133 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drought represents a globally relevant natural disaster linked to adverse health. Evidence has shown agricultural communities to be particularly susceptible to drought, but there is a limited understanding of how drought may impact occupational stress in farmers. METHODS We used repeated measures data collected in the Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Agricultural Workers Cohort study, including 498 Midwestern U.S. farmers surveyed with a Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) at six-month intervals in 312 counties from 2012 through 2015. A longitudinal linear mixed effects model was used to estimate the change in job strain ratio, a continuous metric of occupational psychosocial stress, during drought conditions measured with a 12-month standardized precipitation index. We further evaluated associations between drought and psychological job demand and job decision latitude, the job strain components, and applied a stratified analysis to evaluate differences by participant sex, age, and geography. RESULTS During the growing season, the job strain ratio increased by 0.031 (95% CI: 0.012, 0.05) during drought conditions, an amount equivalent to a one-half standard deviation change (Cohen's D = 0.5), compared to non-drought conditions. The association between drought and the job strain ratio was driven mostly by increases in the psychological job demand (2.09; 95% CI: 0.94, 3.24). No risk differences were observed by sex, age group, or geographic region. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest a previously unidentified association between drought and increased occupational psychosocial stress among farmers. With North American climate anticipated to become hotter and drier, these findings could provide important health effects data for federal drought early warning systems and mitigation plans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D Berman
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Marizen R Ramirez
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jesse E Bell
- Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984388 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Rocky Bilotta
- ISciences, L.L.C. and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's National Centers for Environmental Information, 151 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801, USA
| | - Fredric Gerr
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, 145 N Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Nathan B Fethke
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, 145 N Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Ramadan AMH, Ataallah AG. Are climate change and mental health correlated? Gen Psychiatr 2021; 34:e100648. [PMID: 34825128 PMCID: PMC8578975 DOI: 10.1136/gpsych-2021-100648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time and is likely to affect human beings in substantial ways. Recently, researchers started paying more attention to the changes in climate and their subsequent impact on the social, environmental and economic determinants of health, and the role they play in causing or exacerbating mental health problems. The effects of climate change-related events on mental well-being could be classified into direct and indirect effects. The direct effects of climate change mostly occur after acute weather events and include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, substance abuse disorder, depression and even suicidal ideation. The indirect effects include economic losses, displacement and forced migration, competition over scarce resources and collective violence. The risk factors for developing those mental health issues include young age, female gender, low socioeconomic status, loss or injury of a loved one, being a member of immigrant groups or indigenous people, pre-existing mental illness and inadequate social support. However, in some individuals, especially those undisturbed by any directly observable effects of climate change, abstract awareness and acknowledgement of the ongoing climate crisis can induce negative emotions that can be intense enough to cause mental health illness. Coping strategies should be provided to the affected communities to protect their mental health from collapse in the face of climate disasters. Awareness of the mental health impacts of climate change should be raised, especially in the high-risk groups. Social and global attention to the climate crisis and its detrimental effects on mental health are crucial. This paper was written with the aim of trying to understand the currently, scientifically proven impact of climate change-related disasters on mental health and understanding the different methods of solving the problem at the corporate level, by trying to decrease greenhouse gas emissions to zero, and at the individual level by learning how to cope with the impacts of those disasters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmed G Ataallah
- Department of Psychiatry, Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Chique C, Hynds P, Nyhan MM, Lambert S, Boudou M, O'Dwyer J. Psychological impairment and extreme weather event (EWE) exposure, 1980-2020: A global pooled analysis integrating mental health and well-being metrics. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 238:113840. [PMID: 34543982 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Extreme Weather Events (EWEs) impose a substantial health and socio-economic burden on exposed populations. Projected impacts on public health, based on increasing EWE frequencies since the 1950s, alongside evidence of human-mediated climatic change represents a growing concern. To date, the impacts of EWEs on mental health remain ambiguous, largely due to the inherent complexities in linking extreme weather phenomena with psychological status. This exploratory investigation provides a new empirical and global perspective on the psychological toll of EWEs by exclusively focusing on psychological morbidity among individuals exposed to such events. Morbidity data collated from a range of existing psychological and well-being measures have been integrated to develop a single ("holistic") metric, namely, psychological impairment. Morbidity, and impairment, were subsequently pooled for key disorders-, specifically PTSD, anxiety and depression. A "composite" (any impairment) post-exposure pooled-prevalence rate of 23% was estimated, with values of 24% calculated for depression and ⁓17% for both PTSD and anxiety. Notably, calculated pooled odds ratios (pOR = 1.9) indicate a high likelihood of any negative psychological outcome (+90%) following EWE exposure. Pooled analyses of reported risk factors (p < 0.05) highlight the pronounced impacts of EWEs among individuals with higher levels of event exposure or experienced stressors (14.5%) and socio-demographic traits traditionally linked to vulnerable sub-populations, including female gender (10%), previous history (i.e., pre-event) of psychological impairment (5.5%), lower socio-economic status (5.5%), and a lower education level (5.2%). Inherent limitations associated with collating mental health data from populations exposed to EWEs, and key knowledge gaps in the field are highlighted. Study findings provide a robust evidence base for developing and implementing public health intervention strategies aimed at ameliorating the psychological impacts of extreme weather among exposed populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Chique
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science (BEES), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - P Hynds
- Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geoscience, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute (ESIH), Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - M M Nyhan
- School of Engineering & Architecture, MaREI Centre for Energy, Climate & Marine & Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Ireland; Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, United States
| | - S Lambert
- School of Applied Psychology Research, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - M Boudou
- Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute (ESIH), Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - J O'Dwyer
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science (BEES), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geoscience, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Alam I, Otani S, Majbauddin A, Qing Q, Ishizu SF, Masumoto T, Amano H, Kurozawa Y. The Effects of Drought Severity and Its Aftereffects on Mortality in Bangladesh. Yonago Acta Med 2021; 64:292-302. [PMID: 34429705 DOI: 10.33160/yam.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Background Drought has been a considerable problem for many years in northern Bangladesh. However, the health impacts of drought in this region are not well understood. Methods This study analyzed the impact of drought duration and severity on select causes of mortality in northern Bangladesh. Rainfall data from three meteorological stations (Rangpur, Dinajpur and Nilphamari) in northern Bangladesh were used to assess drought and non-drought periods, and the Standardized Precipitation Index was used to categorize mild, moderate, severe, and extreme drought. Mortality data from 2007 to 2017 for the three areas were collected from the Sample Vital Registration System, which is a survey of 1 million people. The generalized linear model with Poisson regression link was used to identify associations between mortality and the drought severity and 1-month preceding SPI. Results Only severe and extreme drought in the short-term drought periods affected mortality. Long-term drought was not associated with natural cause mortality in Rangpur and Nilphamari. In Dinajpur, mild and moderate drought was associated with circulatory- and respiratory-related mortality. Conclusion The impact of drought on mortality varied by region. This study improves our understanding of how droughts affect specific causes of mortality and will help policy makers to take appropriate measures against drought impacts on selected cause of mortality. Future research will be critical to reduce drought-related risks of health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Intekhab Alam
- Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Shinji Otani
- International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, Tottori 680-0001, Japan
| | - Abir Majbauddin
- Department of Regenerative Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Qing Qing
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
| | - Satomi Funaki Ishizu
- Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Toshio Masumoto
- Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroki Amano
- Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Youichi Kurozawa
- Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Menezes JA, Madureira AP, dos Santos RB, Duval IDB, Regoto P, Margonari C, Barata MMDL, Confalonieri U. Analyzing Spatial Patterns of Health Vulnerability to Drought in the Brazilian Semiarid Region. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18126262. [PMID: 34207877 PMCID: PMC8296049 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Health determinants might play an important role in shaping the impacts related to long-term disasters such as droughts. Understanding their distribution in populated dry regions may help to map vulnerabilities and set coping strategies for current and future threats to human health. The aim of the study was to identify the most vulnerable municipalities of the Brazilian semiarid region when it comes to the relationship between drought, health, and their determinants using a multidimensional index. From a place-based framework, epidemiological, socio-economic, rural, and health infrastructure data were obtained for 1135 municipalities in the Brazilian semiarid region. An exploratory factor analysis was used to reduce 32 variables to four independent factors and compute a Health Vulnerability Index. The health vulnerability was modulated by social determinants, rural characteristics, and access to water in this semiarid region. There was a clear distinction between municipalities with the highest human welfare and economic development and those municipalities with the worst living conditions and health status. Spatial patterns showed a cluster of the most vulnerable municipalities in the western, eastern, and northeastern portions of the semiarid region. The spatial visualization of the associated vulnerabilities supports decision making on health promotion policies that should focus on reducing social inequality. In addition, policymakers are presented with a simple tool to identify populations or areas with the worst socioeconomic and health conditions, which can facilitate the targeting of actions and resources on a more equitable basis. Further, the results contribute to the understanding of social determinants that may be related to medium- and long-term health outcomes in the region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Júlia Alves Menezes
- Transdisciplinary Study Group on Health and Environment René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; (R.B.d.S.); (I.d.B.D.); (U.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Ana Paula Madureira
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, The Federal University of São João del-Rei, Praça Dom Helvécio, 74, Fábricas, 36301-160 São João del-Rei, MG, Brazil;
| | - Rhavena Barbosa dos Santos
- Transdisciplinary Study Group on Health and Environment René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; (R.B.d.S.); (I.d.B.D.); (U.C.)
| | - Isabela de Brito Duval
- Transdisciplinary Study Group on Health and Environment René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; (R.B.d.S.); (I.d.B.D.); (U.C.)
| | - Pedro Regoto
- Postgraduate Program of Meteorology, National Institute for Space Research, Rodovia Presidente Dutra Km 39, 12630-000 Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil;
| | - Carina Margonari
- Leishmaniasis Study Group René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil;
| | - Martha Macêdo de Lima Barata
- Postgraduate Program of Public Health and Environment, National School of Public Health–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480, Manguinhos, 21041-210 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Ulisses Confalonieri
- Transdisciplinary Study Group on Health and Environment René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; (R.B.d.S.); (I.d.B.D.); (U.C.)
| |
Collapse
|