Though the ecological effects of climate change are the most talked about repercussions, our internal health will also suffer. The disastrous effects of climate change are depressing as it is, and as our environmental health continues on a downward spiral, new cases of depression, stress and anxiety will only multiply. New evidence also shows that mental illness will increase as climate change progresses.

Studies show that individuals suffering from schizophrenia and other serious psychological problems will suffer the most in the aftermath of natural disasters and extreme weather events caused by climate change.

"When these events happen, people with pre-established mental illnesses often have more extreme difficulty coping than the rest of the population," said Lisa Page, a psychiatrist at King's College London. "This is an area we maybe need to think about a little more seriously."

Climate models only predict more destructive storms, floods, droughts and disease outbreaks, which will spawn more psychological crisis. Page and a colleague recently published a study that cites a variety of examples showing links between climate change and mental health.

After Hurricane Katrina destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes in the New Orleans area, studies reported an rise in post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression and other mental disorders. Similar effects ware seen when infections disease outbreaks occur.

The mentally ill are hit harder than most during events like the heat wave of 2003 that killed 70,000 Europeans. Page suspects this is because those suffering from psychological illness are more likely to live in substandard housing without air conditioning and other amenities and comforts.

Medications prescribed to mental patients can also play a role in increasing death risk from heat-related complications. The same can be said of substance abuse, which is more common among the psychologically ill.

And then of course, there is the all around state of depression that hits every one of us when reading about climate change and coming to terms with the fact that temperatures are rising, ice caps melting, our sea levels are rising, coasts are shrinking, and species are dying.

"It's when you realize things aren't the way they used to be," said Giovanni Leonardi, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. "It's a sad state to go outside and it's sunny and you worry about it. We didn't used to worry about it being sunny."

As Leonardi says, "recognition of the issue is the first step towards addressing the problem. It's the first step toward helping ourselves to cope with it."

via Discovery