effects of climate change on mental health effects of climate change on mental health the effects of climate change on mental health and well-being can be negative, especially for vulnerable populations and those with pre-existing serious mental illness. there are three broad pathways by which these effects can take place: directly, indirectly or via awareness. the direct pathway includes stress related conditions being caused by exposure to extreme weather events, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd). scientific studies have linked mental health outcomes to several climate-related exposures—heat, humidity, rainfall, drought, wildfires and floods. the indirect pathway can be via disruption to economic and social activities, such as when an area of farmland is less able to produce food. the third pathway can be of mere awareness of the climate change threat, even by individuals who are not otherwise affected by it. smoke in sydney (australia) from large bushfires (in 2019), affected some people's mental health in a direct way. the likelihood of wildfires is increased by climate change.part of a series onclimate change andsociety effects mitigation adaptation economics business action climate finance economic impacts economics of mitigation emissions trading low-carbon economy social issues agriculture cities climate justice children ethics gender indigenous people fisheries human rights security poverty migration women health and psychology climate grief eco-anxiety infectious diseases mental health psychology of denial waterborne diseases communication carbon literacy climate crisis education media coverage popular culture fiction art games public opinion adaptation resilience vulnerability disaster risk reduction ecosystem-based adaptation flood control politics history political economy climate governance climate movement denial global warming controversy litigation individual actions unfccc un conferences kyoto protocol paris agreement portal glossary index mental health outcomes have been measured in several studies through indicators such as psychiatric hospital admissions, mortality, self-harm and suicide rates. vulnerable populations and life stages include people with pre-existing mental illness, indigenous peoples, children and adolescents. the emotional responses to the threat of climate change can include eco-anxiety, ecological grief and eco-anger. such emotions can be rational responses to the degradation of the natural world and lead to adaptive action. assessing the exact mental health effects of climate change is difficult; increases in heat extremes pose risks to mental health which can manifest themselves in increased mental health-related hospital admissions and suicidality.: 9 pathways flooding in the brisbane suburb of sumner in 2011, affecting mental health of residents (floods in queensland are predicted to become more frequent and severe due to climate change) flooded street in the brisbane suburb of yeronga in 2011. people looking at frozen ice sheets breaking apart in the water with a mountain view (this process will be accelerated due to arctic sea ice decline).mental health is a state of well-being where an individual can recognize their abilities, handle daily stresses of life, productively work and be able to contribute to their community. there are three main causal pathways by which climate change impacts mental health: directly, indirectly or via awareness (or "psychosocial"). in some cases, people may be affected via more than one pathway at once. various studies use different nomenclature to designate the three causal pathways. e.g. some designate the "awareness" pathway using the term "indirect impact," while grouping "indirect effects" via financial and social disruption under "psychosocial". impacts from direct pathway