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Three Reasons Why Expecting ‘Recovery’ in the Context of the Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change Is Problematic

Author

Listed:
  • Jo Longman

    (University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney, 61 Uralba Street, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia)

  • Rebecca Patrick

    (School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia)

  • Sarah Bernays

    (School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
    Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK)

  • Fiona Charlson

    (Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia
    School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
    Department of Global Health, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA)

Abstract

Global warming is bringing with it continued long-term changes in the climate system. Extreme weather-related events, which are already becoming a daily reality around the world, are predicted to be more intense and frequent in the future. The widespread occurrence of these events and climate change more broadly are being experienced collectively and at scale and do not affect populations evenly. These climate changes have profound impacts on mental health and wellbeing. Existing reactive responses include frequent implied and direct references to the concept of ‘recovery’. This is problematic in three ways: it conceives of extreme weather events as single, one-off occurrences; implies their unexpected nature; and contains an integral assumption of an end point where individuals/communities are ‘recovered’. Models of mental health and wellbeing support (including funding) need to change, shifting away from ‘recovery’ towards a focus on adaptation. We argue that this presents a more constructive approach that may be used to collectively support communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jo Longman & Rebecca Patrick & Sarah Bernays & Fiona Charlson, 2023. "Three Reasons Why Expecting ‘Recovery’ in the Context of the Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change Is Problematic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-5, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:10:p:5882-:d:1151121
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Helen L. Berry & Thomas D. Waite & Keith B. G. Dear & Anthony G. Capon & Virginia Murray, 2018. "The case for systems thinking about climate change and mental health," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 282-290, April.
    2. Veronica Matthews & Jo Longman & James Bennett-Levy & Maddy Braddon & Megan Passey & Ross S. Bailie & Helen L. Berry, 2020. "Belonging and Inclusivity Make a Resilient Future for All: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Post-Flood Social Capital in a Diverse Australian Rural Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-30, October.
    3. Ashlee Cunsolo & Neville R. Ellis, 2018. "Ecological grief as a mental health response to climate change-related loss," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 275-281, April.
    4. Rosalind Gill & Shani Orgad, 2018. "The Amazing Bounce-Backable Woman: Resilience and the Psychological Turn in Neoliberalism," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 23(2), pages 477-495, June.
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