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Professor discusses climate change and mental health on ABC News

On July 11, Susan Clayton, Whitmore-Williams Professor of Psychology at ������, appeared in an ��to discuss the negative impacts of climate change on mental health.��“Climate change can affect mental health by just increasing people’s stress and worry about the issue, the more they hear about,”��she said.��“I think a lot of people are not really aware this is a problem.”��Featured in both a video and online article,��“Climate Change Also Has a Mental Health Toll” by��Cristina��Carujo,��Clayton��was quoted��for her expertise��on��both environmental and psychological��subjects.����

The segment also included narratives from survivors of California wildfires and Hurricane Katrina. “Post-traumatic stress disorder can be quite common because it is traumatic to live through one of these events,” Clayton explained.��The combination of natural disasters��and rising temperatures with socioeconomic stresses can lead to this mental toll. “Climate change gas been described��as an existential threat, something that really challenges the way we think about the world,” Clayton said. “And I think it has the potential to erode our sense of security.��

As drastic weather patterns become more common, Clayton emphasized the importance of seeking psychological treatment.��“As a��global society, there’s still a lot of��stigma��around mental health problems, but there are things that can help you with this,” she advised. “I think it would help people cope.”��

Posted in News on July 12, 2021.