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Coping with the Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change: A Green Script for Sustainable Action

Author

Listed:
  • Hasini Gunasiri

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

  • Rebecca Patrick

    (School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood 3125, Australia
    Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia)

  • Rhonda Garad

    (Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Melbourne 3168, Australia)

  • Joanne Enticott

    (Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Melbourne 3168, Australia)

  • Graham Meadows

    (Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne 3168, Australia)

  • Tristan Snell

    (School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood 3125, Australia)

Abstract

The climate emergency is an existential threat to human health and environmental sustainability. Recent climate-induced events, such as Australia’s catastrophic bushfires of 2019–2020 and floods of 2022, demonstrate the impacts of the climate crisis on physical and mental health of populations. Using a cross-sectional online survey (N = 5483), we examine how Australians are coping with climate change impacts on mental health. The survey included qualitative questions (open-ended comment boxes and ‘other’ spaces throughout the survey) and quantitative questions (e.g., Likert and bipolar scales) on demographics and the mental health impacts of climate change, environmental behaviour engagement (EBE), and mental health help-seeking (MHHS). Australians are using a range of individual and collective coping strategies to help cope with climate change problems, experiences, and anxiety. They have developed a range of coping strategies including contact with nature, taking sustainability actions, practicing problem-focused and meaning-focused coping, and mental health help-seeking, that need to be understood and reinforced by health professionals. Our findings also highlight a link between direct experience of a climate change event and participants’ EBE and MHHS. We recommend assessment processes and green prescribing as a sustainability action intervention framework that health professionals can offer as a response to ongoing community concern about climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Hasini Gunasiri & Rebecca Patrick & Rhonda Garad & Joanne Enticott & Graham Meadows & Tristan Snell, 2024. "Coping with the Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change: A Green Script for Sustainable Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:3:p:1022-:d:1325975
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henderson, C. & Evans-Lacko, S. & Thornicroft, G., 2013. "Mental illness stigma, help seeking, and public health programs," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(5), pages 777-780.
    2. Maria Ojala, 2013. "Coping with Climate Change among Adolescents: Implications for Subjective Well-Being and Environmental Engagement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(5), pages 1-19, May.
    3. Joana Cruz & Piran C. L. White & Andrew Bell & Peter A. Coventry, 2020. "Effect of Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health: A Narrative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis for the UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-17, November.
    4. Manolis Manioudis & Giorgos Meramveliotakis, 2022. "Broad strokes towards a grand theory in the analysis of sustainable development: a return to the classical political economy," New Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(5), pages 866-878, September.
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