Environmental & Climate Concerns

Climate change is happening all around us. Oregon has suffered wildfires that caused home displacement, the death of loved ones and community members, smoke inhalation, and significant physical and mental harm. The Pacific Northwest has endured unimaginable heat waves reaching up to 116°F — and many people in these areas live in homes without central air conditioning. If you are struggling with environmental and climate concerns, you are not alone, and I can help provide the support you need to work through the distress you are experiencing.

From the American Psychological Association:

"When people think about climate change, they probably think first about its effects on the environment, and possibly on their physical health. But climate change also takes a significant toll on mental health, according to a report released by the American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica entitled Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Implications, and Guidance."

Download the report as a PDF

"Climate change–induced severe weather and other natural disasters have the most immediate effects on mental health in the form of trauma and shock due to personal injuries, loss of a loved one, damage to or loss of personal property, or even the loss of livelihood. Terror, anger, shock, and other intense negative emotions that dominate people's initial response may eventually subside, only to be replaced by post-traumatic stress disorder."

"Among a sample of people living in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, suicide and suicidal ideation more than doubled, 1 in 6 people met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and 49 percent developed an anxiety or mood disorder such as depression."

"The impacts of climate on mental health are not relegated to disasters alone. There are also significant impacts from longer-term climate change. Changes in climate affect agriculture, infrastructure, and livability, which in turn affect occupations and quality of life and can force people to migrate. These effects may lead to loss of personal and professional identity, loss of social support structures, and loss of a sense of control and autonomy — along with feelings of helplessness, fear, and fatalism."

"The key to combating the potential negative psychological effects of climate change is building resilience. Individuals' personal capacity to withstand trauma is increased when they are connected to their networks, off- and online. Researchers have found that higher levels of social support during and in the aftermath of a disaster are associated with lower rates of psychological distress."

"Adopting environmentally friendly policies and lifestyle choices can also have a positive effect on mental health. Choosing to bike or walk to work has been associated with decreased stress levels, and increased access to parks and other green spaces benefits mental health, as spending more time in nature has been shown to lower stress levels and reduce stress-related illness — regardless of socioeconomic status, age, or gender."

American Psychological Association. (2017, March 29). Climate change's toll on mental health [Press release].