The understanding that mental health is fundamental to overall well-being motivated experts to gather at a seminar organized by the Sekeleca U Phatima association in the city of Maputo.
Moderated by Felicidade Juliana Chicico, a Personal Development Coach, the event was themed "The Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health" and featured experts such as Marques Ernesto, Jandira Mandlate Naife, and Katia Baes.
Marques Ernesto, an environmentalist, opened the seminar by explaining that climate change refers to the global increase in temperatures due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere.
These gases, mainly resulting from human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, trap the Sun's heat, causing changes in weather patterns, including cyclones, irregular rainfall, and intense storms. Ernesto also highlighted that global temperatures have been rising in recent years, intensifying these phenomena.
He also emphasized that climate change not only affects physical health, leading to diseases such as fevers and cholera, but also has a profound impact on mental health, causing stress and anxiety. "Climate change not only affects the environment but also people's livelihoods, causing stress and anxiety," he explained.
In turn, Jandira Mandlate Naife, a clinical and counseling psychologist, highlighted that climate change has profound effects on the mental health of the population, despite it continuing to be a "taboo" for many.
Naife explained that the impact of climate change on mental health manifests in various ways. Stress and anxiety can arise from the fear of natural disasters and concerns about the future. Mood disorders, such as depression, may be exacerbated by the sense of despair and loss associated with climate events.
Trauma and grief are common following the loss of property, homes, and loved ones, while food insecurity and forced displacement increase the sense of insecurity and mental distress. Psychological disorders related to these experiences include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, generalized anxiety, and adjustment disorders.
Katia Baes, a Brazilian clinical psychologist, shared a moving account of the floods in Rio Grande do Sul in May 2024, which caused material devastation and had a profound impact on mental health.
"Many people developed PTSD, characterized by nightmares and intrusive thoughts," she reported, adding that depression, generalized anxiety, and sleep problems were also frequently highlighted as consequences of these disasters.
The experts suggested measures to promote psychological resilience in the face of climate change, such as education and training to confront these challenges, strengthening social and community support networks, and developing preparedness plans for climate events.
(By Renaldo Manhice)
