Anxiety, depression, stress and behavior disorders, owe much of their origin to climate change, as explained by specialists participating in the National Medical Congress, which is held in Jacó.
Elmer Valverde, psychiatrist, explained that climate change is not only related to the environment and natural disasters, but it also has an impact on mental health.
The 79th edition of the Congress started on Monday and this time it’s called “Climate Change and its impact on the Health of Costa Rica and the World.”
According to Valverde, the effects of the phenomenon on the environment often generate a change in living conditions, which impacts the mental health of the inhabitants.
Farmers are affected by the loss of their crops and, therefore, their sources of work. Anxiety over the lack of water develops, behavioral alterations due to the heat occur, post-traumatic stress and depression after the disasters increase exponentially,”
explained the doctor.
According to Valverde, in Costa Rica there is no specific study on this increase in depression cases and its relationship with climate change, but in other countries such as Australia, there has been a substantial increase in the last seven years. For example, in the case of farmers, in that country there is an increase of 17% of stress symptoms and 34% more is reported in drug and alcohol consumption related to loss of work due to the weather.
The specialists agree that it is important to prioritize mental health and care for patients in a comprehensive manner. People should know about some symptoms such as exaggerated fears to everyday situations, breathing difficulties, appetite problems, sweating, shortness of breath, tachycardia, hopelessness or exaggerated anger.
For years we have focused on physical illnesses, but an epidemic of mental illness due to the weather is looming and we must be prepared,”
said Valverde.