Visakhapatnam: Global warming has been associated with rise in prevalence of mental health issues. Exposure to hotter temperatures and tropical cyclones is linked with worsening mental health at an early age. Climate change is likely to have an effect on human moods.
According to a recent United Nation’s report on climate change, global warming could take a serious toll on mental health 22 years before the 2040 deadline that was set earlier. When monthly temperatures ranged above 30OCelsius, the prevalence of mental health issues increased by 0.5 per cent, it says.
Further, the study says that rainy days also increased mental health problems. There was a rise in mental health issues by 2 per cent when it rained for more than 25 days, when compared to the months having no precipitation. Environmental factors such as climate change and exposure to heat are believed to pose threats to the mental health of individuals.
However, local psychiatrists do not agree with the correlation between climate change and mental health. They are not sure whether the rise in average monthly temperatures would lead to mental illness. They say multiple factors contribute to psychological imbalance.
Dr K. Sarada, senior psychiatrist, said that there were many reasons for the increasing rate of mental heath issues among the young. Apart from genetic causes, young people in the present scenario suffer from stress, lack of parental care, broken families and consumption of alcohol and drugs at an early age. She said, “Many youngsters are facing mental ailments, but ignore them as health issues. Unable to spend time with their kids, most working parents in nuclear family environments put them in coaching centres. With increased stress levels and academic pressure, adolescents have been going through anxiety, depression and insomnia.”
Suicide, addiction, phobia, trauma, bullying, discrimination and stress are some of the major issues faced by young people today, factors which may lead to mental illnesses. To create global awareness and compassion towards these concerns, “Young people and mental health in a changing world,” has been chosen as the theme for World Mental Health Day.
Rise of mental issues in youth due to technology
Going to a psychiatrist is still considered degrading to self esteem. Though treatment and support is available everywhere, youth avoid going to a hospital and become victims of their own emotional outbursts. Most parents are silent even though they can see mental ailments afflict their children.
They pick up courage to meet a psychiatrist only when their children develop suicidal tendencies. Instead, they should take the child to a psychiatrist as soon as they detect abnormal behaviour.
There is a lot of misunderstanding about “mental health” and almost 60 per cent of those mentally affected are not taken to psychiatrists or other mental health professionals. Instead, they are taken to astrologers or tantriks. Some are even punished for being crazy.
The Government Hospital for Mental Care (GHMC), the only state-run hospital for psychiatry in Andhra Pradesh, conducted an awareness programme on the rights of mentally challenged persons on the eve of World Mental Health Day on Wednesday.
“The number of mentally challenged persons among youth has greatly increased in the past few years with Internet technology and gaming addictions. We are creating awareness on various topics during the World Mental Health week,” GHMC superintendent Dr Radha Rani said.
She said, “Parents are not interested in visiting a psychiatrist due to social stigma. They hide mental illnesses during marriages and on other occasions. Even close relatives don’t know about the problem.
“They try to keep it a secret as if the child were born with a curse. Any untreated disease becomes chronic. If not treated at the right time, mental illness peaks over time. The recovery will be good if the duration of untreated period is short. Patients, who have taken long term treatment have gone back to normal life.”
