Presentation Information
[SY-79]Symposium on Climate change and mental health
Misari Oe1, Ruta Karaliuniene2, Susanna Every-Palmer3, Sefanaia Qaloewai4, Meryam Schouler-Ocak5 (1.Kurume University(Japan), 2.Rheinmosel Fachklinik, Academic Hospital at Mainz University(Germany), 3.University of Otago(New Zealand), 4.Department of Mental Health, Child Care and Adult Medicine, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University(Japan), 5.Charité-Universiteatsmedizin Berlin(Germany))
The consequences of climate change are stress factors for mental health. Therefore, as global warming progresses, an increasing incidence and prevalence of mental illness is to be expected. Thus, climate change is likely to have a significant impact on population mental health. Vulnerable groups, such as those with pre-existing mental illness, children, and adolescents, need to be protected. People affected by climate change and involuntary migration are significantly more mentally stressed than the general population. Furthermore, people in low income countries and minority communities are particularly vulnerable to experience the most severe impacts now and in the coming decades. While most climate-related events cannot be completely avoided, many of the health risks could be prevented through building climate-resilient health systems with improved risk reduction, preparation, response, and recovery. Conducting vulnerability and adaptation assessments and developing health system adaptation plans can identify priority actions to effectively reduce risks, such as disaster risk management and more resilient infrastructure. Moreover, climate change and mental health represents a rapidly growing area of research, which needs to accelerate and broaden in scope to respond with evidence-based mitigation and adaptation strategies, e.g. resilience through community solidarity and cultural practices. To safeguard mental health, it is vital to integrate psychological support into climate adaptation strategies. In this context, psychiatrists have a role to play in preparing for, and developing mitigation strategies against such effects. At the same time, there is a need for further systematic research on the mechanisms of action and effects of climate change on mental function.