Climate Change and Risk of Completed Suicide
Caroline Dumont1, Elizabeth Haase, Trygve Dolber2
1Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|March 25, 2020
Summary
Climate change impacts mental health, with rising suicide rates suggesting a link. This review explores the connection between climate change and suicide, examining research challenges.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Mental Health Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Climate change is increasingly linked to adverse mental health outcomes.
- Elevated suicide rates in affected communities and the US suggest a potential association with climate change.
- Understanding these complex relationships is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current literature on the association between climate change and suicide.
- To explore potential mechanisms linking climate change to suicidal behavior.
- To identify methodological challenges in researching climate change and suicide.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed and PsycInfo databases.
- Keywords used: "climate change" and "suicide".
- Review and synthesis of existing research findings and identified research gaps.
Main Results:
- The literature suggests a potential association between climate change and increased suicide rates.
- Several pathways may link climate change to suicide, including economic impacts, extreme weather events, and psychological distress.
- Significant methodological challenges exist, including establishing causality and addressing confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- A growing body of evidence indicates a link between climate change and suicide.
- Further rigorous research is needed to elucidate causal pathways and inform effective prevention strategies.
- Addressing climate change is essential for protecting mental health and preventing suicide.
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