Download Claire Gerard 4/19/15 Analysis Outline English 102 Professor

Claire Gerard
4/19/15
Analysis Outline
English 102
Professor Waluconis
How is Climate Change Effecting Mental Health Today?
Thesis: Climate change is already starting to impact the mental health of humans who are subjected to
weather changes.
I.
Australia and the impacts of long term droughts
A. Persistent drought and weather disasters negatively impacted people
1. Researchers reported higher levels of psychological distress etc.
2. Hopelessness in people who were subjected to environmental degradation was
observed
B. Farming communities appeared particularly vulnerable
1. Most severely impacting older farmers.
2. These older farmers already have limited access to mental health services.
II.
Impacts on Inuit populations in northern Canada (Arctic regions/ Eskimos?)
A. These populations are experiencing some of the most rapid changes in climate
1. Northern Canada is already experiencing rising temps, decline in sea ice
thickness etc.
2. These changes are currently disrupting the livelihood of these populations
B. These communities rely on the land for sustenance- clear negative impact by land
altercations
1. Pre-existing mental health conditions further exacerbated
2. Study in Nunatsiavut, Labrador shows increase in strong emotional reactions to
weather changes
III.
Impacts on Solomon Islands
A. The villagers on this island are extremely vulnerable to climate changes
1. They have seen sea levels rise 8mm since 1993 per year
2. Many of the villagers have been forced to relocate due to sea level rise
B. Sixty people were asked to participate in a survey relating to rise in sea level
1. Fifty-six of the fifty-seven that participated stated they had been impacted by
the rise in sea level
2. Over half of the people who participated stated that the worry about the rise in
sea level has a negative impact on them
Claire Gerard
4/22/16
Analysis Essay First Draft
English 102
Professor Waluconis
How is Climate Change Effecting Mental Health Today?
Global climate change is making our future is looking like a warm, chaotic place. With these
changes in the weather, especially extreme weather, the world is going to see a rise in mental health
related issues. Although this is a somewhat new topic that is being discussed and researched, there are
a few places that are already starting to see negative impacts on mental health due to weather related
changes. Australia is experiencing droughts, villagers who live on the Solomon Islands north east of
Australia are experiencing a quick rise in sea level, and the Inuit or as we know them “Esikmo”
population in Northern Canada have been experiencing emotional related issues. These issues are
highlighted in the article “Mental health issues from rising sea level in a remote costal region of the
Solomon Islands: current and future” written by James Asugeni, David MacLaren, Peter D Massey, and
Rick Speare. As well as another article titled “Climate change: the next challenge for public mental
health?” written by Francois Bourque and Ashlee Cunsolo Wilcox
The Solomon Islands are north east of Australia near New Guinea. Since the year 2000 the sea
level has risen 11cm (Asugeni et al. 23) which has caused much worry among the villagers. In a survey
taken by Asugeni, MacLaren, Massey and Speare, out of fifty-seven people surveyed from six different
villages, fifty-six of them reported being worried about the rise in sea level (Asugeni et al. 25). Although
that is a very small number of people in comparison to the entire population of the islands, that is still a
striking number. “Participants described direct and indirect physical and social consequences, persistent
worry and thoughts of relocation” (Asugeni et al. 25) We are lucky here in the United States, we aren’t
seeing things like this quite yet. Our neighbors in Northern Canada on the other hand, have not been
quite as lucky.
The Inuit population in Northern Canada has been seeing similar issues as the villagers on the
Solomon Islands. Instead of a rise in sea level, this population is seeing “a rise in temperature, decline in
sea ice thickness and extent, warming permafrost, increased frequency and intensity of storms, and
disruptions to wildlife and vegetation patterns” (Borque and Wilcox 417) The Article by Borque and
Wilcox continues to say that in a recent study done in Labrador, there were signs of strong emotional
distress due to lack of activities because of the land not being there for said activities. Some of the
activities include hunting, fishing, and trapping (Borque and Wilcox 417)
In the beautiful place we know as Australia, we are slowly but surely starting to feel the effects
of climate change. Droughts, bleaching of the corals, and marine animal life declining to name a few. In
the article written by Borque and Wilcox, they examine how the droughts in Australia have been
effecting the people involved. There was a “reported high number of hopelessness and psychological
distress among people exposed to environmental degradation” as well as higher reports of anxiety,
depression, and an increased number of suicides (Borque and Wilcox 416)
The effects of global climate change on the mental health of those subjected all seem to lead to
the same sort of problems: depression, anxiety, worry, psychological distress etc. These are all issues
that have been reported at least once in all three of the examples used above. With this continued shift
in weather, we are sure to keep seeing all of the same problems arise. These problems have the
potential to get worse as more and more countries become effected by this. Places like Australia, the
Solomon Islands and Northern Canada seem to a be a small glimpse into the future of our worlds mental
health.
Works Cited
Bourque, François, and Ashlee Cunsolo Willox. "Climate Change: The next Challenge for Public Mental
Health?" International Review of Psychiatry 26.4 (2014): 415-22. EBSCOHost. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Asugeni, James, David MacLaren, Peter D. Massey, and Rick Speare. "Mental Health Issues from Rising
Sea Level in a Remote Coastal Region of the Solomon Islands: Current and Future." Australian
Psychiatry 23.6 (December 2015): 22-25. EBSCOHost. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.