‘Eco-distress’ is a meaningful response to climate emergency, say psychiatrists’ group

MORE people are visiting psychiatrists with concerns about the planet, as the Royal College of Psychiatrists labels the phenomenon “eco-distress”.

In a paper published today, the body for psychiatrists warned that climate change was “exacerbating existing mental health problems and leading to psychological distress and the onset of new episodes of mental illness”.

Even people not directly affected by the effects of climate change, such as flooding or displacement, can suffer emotions caused by knowledge about extreme weather elsewhere, the Royal College said. “Witnessing such climatic events has been tied to a range of emotions which although not indicative of illness leave a psychological wake.

“The increased use of terminology such as ‘eco-distress’ (as well as ‘climate grief ’, ‘ecological grief ’ and ‘solastalgia’), reflects a growing recognition of this emerging issue,” the paper says.

Eco-distress “should not be pathologised and is not a mental disorder, and it should be considered a meaningful response to the climate and ecological emergencies,” it adds.

Psychiatrists see a rise in mental health issues during periods of hot weather, with several studies finding that heatwaves can be associated with a rise in hospital admissions and suicides.

Dr Lisa Page, associate registrar for sustainability at the college, said: “The knock-on effects of climate change and biodiversity loss will be felt on people’s mental health.

“Many patients with serious mental illness experience worse physical and mental health on hotter days, polluted air has been linked to excess deaths and flood events with PTSD.”

The college’s decision to declare a climate emergency follows earlier declarations by the Royal Colleges of GPS and of Emergency Medicine.