How climate change impacts mental health in Bangladesh?

Scientists have recently announced the alarming results of a study that looked at how climate change impacts the mental health of people who live in Bangladesh. The study was conducted in a survey on 7,000 citizens in urban and rural areas in January and February 2020 to assess how subjects’ anxiety and depression changed amid weather fluctuations tied to global warming, CNET reports quoting the study.

According to the study, scientists have measured climate variables at 43 weather stations in the country to track parameters such as seasonal temperature, humidity and flooding occurrences over two months. The results revealed that people who experienced higher temperatures (by 1 degree Celsius) during the two months preceding the study had a 21 percent higher probability of having an anxiety disorder and a 24 percent higher probability of having depression.

Mental health is a neglected topic in the global context. It is envisaged that mental health is going to be one of the major public health crises across the world in the coming days. Currently more than 450 million people globally are suffering from mental illness and mental health-related diseases. The number of mental health patients is on the rise in Bangladesh too. Statistics show that 17.8 percent teenagers, 18.4 percent children and 16.1 percent adult people in the country suffer from some sort of mental illness. In Bangladesh, nine out of every ten people with mental health issues do not receive treatment.

The study further says the mental healthcare system in Bangladesh is facing multifarious problems including lack of public mental health facilities, scarcity of skilled workforce, inadequate financial resource allocation and social stigma. Over the last years, life has become more technical and stress in life has increased much more than any time in the past. Consequently, the mental health situation is worsening at an alarming rate here. But Bangladesh is yet to receive the mass attention as a public health crisis.

In Bangladesh, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, depression and schizophrenia are the top five mental health issues affecting the younger population. The younger set is not the only group that is affected. Even among older age groups, mental health problems are prevalent and experts have repeatedly highlighted the need to raise awareness on it. The government should look forward to reinforcing the country’s mental health services by allocating adequate funds.

There is a need to establish a common ground for the global and local communities so that they can intervene into and address the mental health issues prudently. We must work together to break down the stigmas and evolve the support and care for those of all ages who experience problems with their mental health.