On Mental Health Day (10 October), India has reasons to be concerned. Mental health problems are increasing in India due to climate crisis. The country has the highest number of suicides in the world. In 2022, NCRB report said, “171,000 people died by suicide”. Between 31% and 57% of young people are depressed. According to a UNICEF report, one in seven young Indians aged 15 to 24 always feels depressed. The climate crisis will make this worse.
India’s mental health response does not account for the role of the climate crisis.
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Climate crisis led to suicidal thoughts
Climate-induced disasters are driving individuals and communities into psychological distress. Losing a job, being forced to move, and not feeling part of society can affect your mental health. The climate crisis can also cause anxiety. This can affect people’s mental health. After Cyclone Fani hit Odisha in 2019, villages saw a rise in PTSD, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Similarly, drought-prone states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where large areas of land suffer from droughts, also report high suicide rates among farmers.
The National Action Plan for Climate Change and Human Health (NAPCCHH)
National mental health programmes focus on clinical causes, not environmental stressors that make mental health problems worse. The National Action Plan for Climate Change and Human Health (NAPCCHH) aims to reduce climate-sensitive illnesses. However, it only briefly mentions integrating climate concerns into mental health policy.
Integration of all aspects is the call of this hour
India must integrate climate resilience and disaster response policies into all aspects of mental health, including monitoring, diagnosis, and infrastructure.
Policies treat the climate crisis and mental health in isolation, which makes it hard to understand how they are connected. Mental health programmes in India aim to improve awareness and capacity, but they often ignore the long-term psychological impact of climate disasters.
A challenge here
A key challenge is that most states lack databases to track how climate change affects mental health. This leads to poor mental health care, misuse of resources and ineffective crisis response.
India can collect data on mental health and climate change to address climate crisis impact on young minds. New mental health research facilities must be set up in India.
They’ll monitor people’s mental health and predict when they’ll become unwell due to climate change (climate crisis). Treat the mental illness caused by climate change differently. India’s mental health services are poor. Only 30% of people with mental health issues get treatment. Over 85% do not get treatment due to a lack of awareness or access. India has only 0.7 mental health professionals for every one lakh people, which is far below the global guideline.
Investing in mental healthcare and training professionals on climate change
Investing in mental healthcare and training professionals on climate change is key to developing a resilient mental health system. To tackle climate-related mental health issues, the government must help communities adapt to climate change and make mental health services more resilient.
The role of ASHA workers in addressing climate crisis’ impact on mental health
This is especially important in rural areas, where people are still afraid of talking about mental illness. India’s Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers could inspire a similar group in other areas vulnerable to extreme weather.
International models has worked on this subject
International models teach us a lot. After Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe, a project to help nurses and other people in the community led to better mental health awareness and support. India could do this in areas at risk from climate disasters.
India can build a more resilient mental health programme by connecting institutions, using data, and supporting community-based mental health interventions.
What does Nature.com says about on this topic?
“Those who experience debilitating effects on their mental health caused by climate change need help from specialists. The many others who are scared or angry, but otherwise not unwell, need to know that these feelings are normal — and if they can harness their unease to spur action, they could help themselves, others and the world.”
