Climate Institute warns up to 20% will suffer extreme stress
By Ian Birch
As President Obama warns today that Hurricane Irene is still a danger to the east coast of America, the Climate Institute of Australia has warned of the devastating effects of extreme weather events on communities’ mental health.
In a report, out today, it warns that up to 20% of affected communities will suffer extremes stress, emotional injury and despair. Blaming adverse weather on climate change, it says: “Unabated, a more hostile climate will spell a substantial rise in the incidence of post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression – all at great personal suffering and, consequently, social and economic cost.”
The emotional and psychological after-effects of events like Hurricane Irene can linger for months or even years afterwards, affecting, says the Institute, whole families, people’s ability to work, and their wellbeing. Self-harm and suicide are reported to rise by an alarming 8% after some extreme weather events – drought and heat waves.
Children, in particular, are thought to be vulnerable to pre-disaster anxiety and post-trauma illness.
John Connor, CEO of the Climate Institute, told ABC News most scientists believe there will be more extreme weather events.
"It's a risk management issue, dealing with the consequences and trying to avoid the worst impacts of climate change," he said.
"The evidence is growing, with studies in EU with a longer database, which is directly linking climate change to the floods in the UK and doing term studies of ocean temperatures”.
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