Depressed? Just blame climate change

Some recent letters here remind me of a Washington Post story titled “Why we shouldn’t give in to climate despair,” saying people are so upset over climate change they are suffering mental health issues labeled “climate despair.”

“Young adults are among the groups most vulnerable to feelings of depression and anxiety related to climate change, said Leslie Davenport, a climate psychology educator and consultant who is a member of a directory of climate-aware therapists.”

All this because of a small rise in global temperature over the past 150 years.

WaPo thinks people need mental-health treatment to cope with climate change. What they may in fact need treatment for is disorder known as “catastrophizing.” Psychology Today defines it this way:

“Catastrophizing is a cognitive distortion that prompts people to jump to the worst possible conclusion, usually with very limited information or objective reason to despair. When a situation is upsetting, but not necessarily catastrophic, they still feel like they are in the midst of a crisis.”

What’s missing for those who think climate change poses “an existential threat” to people is the fact that the human condition is actually far better it was than 100 years ago.

Crop production has increased dramatically, the Earth is greener thanks to the additional carbon dioxide man has put out into the atmosphere, and human health is better than ever.

Also, climate related deaths are also way down, approaching zero. These facts are something to feel good about, rather than despair about.

References: https://wattsupwiththat.com/newspaper-letter-references/