Auerbach, P. S., & Lemery, J. (2017). Enviromedics: The Impact of Climate Change on Human Health (Illustrated). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Drs. Lemery and Auerbach’s book enumerates the causes of the mental health consequences associated with climate change. These causes include distress from trauma brought on by extreme weather events, emotional distress induced by property damage and migration, physical illness stemming from climate change, and the degradation of the community fabric due to population displacement. Furthermore, thereis the issue of cultural assimilation, which is posed to become an serious issue as transnational mass human displacement inevitably occurs. The need for the “climate refugees” to “adapt to new environments” and “coexist with new, unfamiliar, and sometimes hostile neighbors” contributes to stress (Auerbach & Lemery, 2017). I intend to use Enviromedics to describe the causes of the adverse mental health effects of climate change detailed in other texts.
“Direct effects include distress immediately following traumatic events brought on by severe weather episodes: tsunamis, hurricanes, wildfires, and other climate-related environmental disasters. Emotional distress also may be created by desecration of land and crops due to weather conditions, such as flooding and droughts that force population displacement when local conditions become untenable. Indirect effects include anxiety and depression related to physical maladies caused by climate change, or from the negative effects that climate change can create, such as degradation of the social, economic, or emotional fabric of a community.” (Auerbach & Lemery, 2017).
Beil, K. (2018, July). Forest Bathing: Immersion in the Healing Power of Nature – Traditional Roots Institute. Traditional Roots Institute. https://traditionalroots.org/forest-bathing/
Beil’s article describes the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, which utilizes nature to promote mental wellbeing. While its form as a distinct practice is a more recent development, with the Japanese government coining the term in the 1980s to encourage more frequent usage of public lands, forest bathing has ancient roots, being based on “cultural respect and reverence for the natural world and the interactions with the landscape that occur as a result” (Beil, 2019). More than a simple stroll through the woods, forest bathing is explained by Beil to be a fully immersive experience. Beil also details the psychological benefits of forest bathing, all of which are supported by a large body of research. I intend to use Beil’s article to identify a specific psychologically beneficial Japanese nature connectedness practice that would be affected by the advent of climate change.
“The sights, sounds and smells of the environment support and comfort each person as they literally ‘bathe’ in the forest air. Walking with the direct purpose of connecting with the vegetation around you is a very powerful way of engaging the senses and stepping away from the concerns and distractions of modern life.” (Beil, 2018).
Morita, E., Fukuda, S., J, N., Hamajima, N., Yamamoto, H., Iwai, Y., Nakashima, T., Ohira, H., & Shirakawa, T. (2007). Psychological effects of forest environments on healthy adults: Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing, walking) as a possible method of stress reduction. Public Health, 121(1), 54–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2006.05.024
Morita’s journal article studied the psychological effects of shinrin-yoku on participants and the factors associated with those effects. Using surveys such as the Multiple Mood Scale-Short Form, which measures hostility, depression, boredom, friendliness, wellbeing and liveliness, as well as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory A-State Scale, researchers evaluated the outcome measures of a day spent in a forest as compared to a control day. They found that “hostility and depression scores decreased significantly, and liveliness scores increased significantly on the forest day compared with the control day” (Morita et al., 2007). I intend to use this paper to provide evidence for the psychological benefits of shinrin-yoku and nature-connectedness practices.
“In this study, hostility and depression scores decreased significantly as a result of participation in shinrinyoku compared with the control day, not only in subgroups that did not exercise or who were unable to take part in their favourite activities, but also in those who did exercise and who were able to take part in their favourite activities. These findings suggest that improvements in hostility and depression on the forest day were not caused simply by exercise or the ability to take part in favourite activities, but rather by the forest environment.” (Morita et al., 2007).
“This study revealed that forest environments are advantageous with respect to acute emotions, especially among those experiencing chronic stress. Accordingly, shinrin-yoku may be employed as a stress reduction method, and forest environments can be viewed as therapeutic landscapes. Therefore, customary shinrin-yoku may help to decrease the risk of psychosocial stress related diseases, and evaluation of the long-term effects of shinrin-yoku is warranted.” (Morita et al., 2007).
Steinberg, S. L., & Sprigg, W. A. (2016). Extreme Weather, Health, and Communities: Interdisciplinary Engagement Strategies (1st ed.). Springer International Publishing.
The book chapter by Dr. Jyotsana Shukla outlines the number of adverse mental health effects associated with extreme weather events. These catastrophes have been observed to cause acute trauma, post-traumatic stress, disorder, depression, and anxiety; they may also result in substance abuse, family issues, and intergroup conflict. Dr. Shukla explains that this damage is permanent, with trauma symptoms lasting for years after the occurrence of the event; she also mentions extreme weather events’ ability to aggravate existing mental health problems in affected communities. She argues that there must be greater awareness and action by government and among the general public of these mental health consequences in order to effectively handle the issue, and provides guidelines for doing so. I intend to use this book chapter to discuss the adverse mental health effects that the Japanese people will be subject to as a result of an increased frequency of climate change-related extreme weather events in the country, and enumerate practical steps that can be taken to handle the consequences.
“Extreme weather events may cause acute trauma (Weems et al. 2007). People may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety (Union of concerned Scientists 2010). Feelings of distress following a disaster include being ‘scared, sad, depressed, numb, helpless and hopeless, frustrated or angry.'” (Steinberg & Sprigg, 2016, p. 247).
