Severe weather events have increased and intensified as climate change has gotten worse. Studies and research shows how negatively the mental health of survivors can be impacted as a result of the trauma they have experienced. Whether they develop depression, anxiety, economic troubles, personality disorders, grief as a result of death/loss, and/or a host of other mental health troubles, it is important that communities and policy making bodies have preventative measures in place. Whether it is therapy, the organization of group homes shelters or any other mechanism to treat short and long term effects of those affected, it is important that these impacts are addressed. The preparedness of the public and government in preventing …show more content…
Severe weather events have proven to lead to mental health issues for those who fall victim to their occurrence. Climate change in general has shown to affect the mental health of humanity as a whole. It is important that climate change and severe weather are not only understood, but that governments and other policy making bodies are aware of the impact of severe weather so they can properly prepare and provide psychological support to those affected. Severe weather refers to “dangerous meteorological phenomena with the potential to cause damage, serious social disruption, or loss of human life” (). Severe weather is caused by climate change which is known as the change in climate patterns that are usually found in one particular area and takes over hundreds or millions of years to occur. This critical global challenge known as climate change in caused by the increased levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, also know as global warming, and leads to the heating of the earth and an increase in the atmospheric temperature (dictionary.com). Global warming is what is causing heat, hurricanes, …show more content…
The suicide of farmers in places heavy on agriculture such as Australia and India, crop failures have declined because there has been no moisture and dry conditions horrible for sustainable plant growth. Crop failure leads to economic troubles and it becomes more difficult for the farmer to provide for himself and or his family. Along with this, the drought can raise the price of other expenses in the area. Farmers then have difficulty not only making money but being able to afford food and basic necessities for their family which may lead to other physical health related issues. In some countries it is even crucial for farmers to maintain a certain income so they can remain on a certain level in society or class. Having economic troubles and issues with labor has been proven to lead to mental health disorders such as depression in other instances and adding the increased high temperatures that inevitably come with drought, can again lead to aggression and higher suicide attempts in farmers (Guiney). This is just one example of how a specific group of people or population’s mental health can negatively affected because of climate change and more importantly extreme weather events. These two ideas have direct and indirect impacts that could be lessened and dealt with over time, if policy making bodies gain awareness about