Policy Brief: Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health in the US

This policy brief examines the escalating mental health crisis linked to climate change within the United States. The report identifies key mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal ideation, and highlights the disproportionate impact on economically challenged individuals, the elderly, indigenous populations, and other vulnerable groups. The brief outlines the health issue, the affected population, and provides a problem statement. It proposes steps for policy change, including identifying stakeholders and budgetary considerations. Furthermore, the policy brief emphasizes the need for environmental policies to address the mental health consequences of climate change, advocating for interventions to mitigate the psychological toll of environmental changes and extreme weather events. The report concludes by underscoring the critical role of government in reforming existing environmental policies to prioritize the mental well-being of citizens in the face of a changing climate. It references key research and studies to support its claims.

Running head: BENCHMARK – POLICY BRIEF
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Benchmark – policy brief
Student’s name
University’s name

POLICY BRIEF 2
Benchmark – Policy Brief
As the climate is being affected all over the world, there has been an increasing rate of
individuals suffering from issues of mental and psychological wellbeing. For an individual to
experience mental wellbeing, all aspects of wellbeing like psychosocial, emotional and mental
wellbeing are to be fulfilled (Climate Changes Health: Mental Wellness, 2020). The social and
psychological factors shape psychosocial wellness in an individual. Hence, it is crucial to
regulate human exposure to the changing environmental climate with the help of an appropriate
and effective policy. In the following essay, the brief of the policy and the required changes
according to the changing climate in the world will be discussed in detail.
Describe the policy health issue.
The health issue that is experienced by the individuals in the United States is the
increasing prevalence rate of mental health issues like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), recovery fatigue and suicidal ideation (Climate Changes Health: Mental
Wellness, 2020; Hayes et al., 2018). The population that is likely to be affected by the changing
climate and no effective policy to regulate the human exposure are the economically challenged
individuals who are unable to change their habitation frequently because of the changing
environment (Cunsolo & Ellis, 2018). In addition to them, the older individuals of the
community or the locality, indigenous people, people experiencing racial slurs, immigrants and
children are the ones who are likely to be affected by the mental health issue due to the changing
climate. Environmental change-instigated severe climate and other cataclysmic events have the
quickest impacts on emotional well-being as the injury and shock because of individual wounds.
The climate change in the world has been affecting the temperatures and sea levels which

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increase the chances of demographic shifting of the entire community (Hayes et al., 2018). The
threats of climate change have been inflicting hopelessness and despair in individuals while also
addressing the problem of changing climate. It has been reported in the media reports published
in 2007 that, there is an increase in climate change and health by 78% and academic literature
had tripled (Barrett, Charles & Temte, 2015). There is additionally expanding open and scholarly
acknowledgement of the degree to which rising worldwide temperatures undermine planetary
and human wellbeing. While open mindfulness about the wellbeing ramifications of
environmental change keeps on developing, the subject of emotional wellness is much of the
time missing from this discourse.
Problem statement.
The increasing prevalence of climate change has been creating a negative impact on the
mental health of the individual which could be regulated with the inclusion of a public health
environmental policy for the economically challenged community in the nation.
Suggestions, steps and stakeholders required for policy change.
Natural policies for environment instruments can be commonly depicted as the methods
received by specialists to advance the appropriation of measures, or the adjustment in operators'
conduct, so as to accomplish cultural objectives, in particular, diminishing and controlling the
weights and effects started by financial exercises in the earth. For the inception of the approach
change, it is basic to break down the shortcomings that are seen in the arrangement.
Distinguishing environmental change as a determinant of emotional wellness may assist with
lessening shame (Daskivich et al., 2015). With the information that natural elements shape
emotional wellness, individuals might be bound to take part in help-chasing practices; further,
this information may likewise support ecological stewardship. It is after this that the future

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effects of the arrangement on the environmental change and the psychological wellness of the
people are to be laid forward to the board individuals with the consideration of the potential
disservices and the monetary allowance required for the change (Barnes and Drake, 2015).
Impact
Environmental change strikes at the very centre of wellbeing frameworks which is crucial
to keep individuals sound. They are likewise influenced monetarily and basically by the rising
recurrence of extraordinary climate occasions, and they are significant supporters of carbon
emanations. Indeed, even inaccessible atmosphere occasions can affect them. Similarly as with
any business activity, making a move on environmental change begins with a mission (Eckelman
& Sherman, 2016). For wellbeing frameworks, environmental change legitimately impacts the
strength of patients and networks. We are just as sound as the earth in which we live, and as
environmental change compounds, an ever-increasing number of individuals face the wellbeing
outcomes of out of control fires, tropical storms, floods, and constrained relocation all around
from bombed harvests, dry spells, and coming about political unrest. Climate change is as of now
adversely influencing human wellbeing. Various medicinal expert societies have given policy
explanations that approach their doctor individuals to help lessen human services' carbon
impression, advocate for government strategies that diminish ozone-depleting substance
discharges and teach their patients and networks about environmental change and wellbeing
(Pinzone et al., 2016). The medicinal services part has a noteworthy atmospheric impact,
creating 10 per cent of the complete ozone harming substances in the United States. On the off
chance that the U.S. healthcare area was itself a nation, it would rank thirteenth on the planet for
emanations, in front of the whole United Kingdom. Medical clinics are among the most vitality
concentrated structures in the nation, expending in excess of 10 per cent of the complete vitality

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utilized in U.S. business structures and spending more than $8 billion on vitality consistently.
That is sufficient to cover the normal pay off in excess of 100,000 medical attendants.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it could be understood that the situation regarding the citizens of the
country and their increasing mental health concerns have been impacted due to the constant and
significant change in the climate. Hence, it is critical for the government to reform the existing
policy relating to the environment such that the mental health of individuals is also focused. The
health issue that is experienced by the individuals in the United States is the increasing
prevalence rate of mental health issues like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), recovery fatigue and suicidal ideation. Hence, as a policy change is required, it is also
important to understand the reason why the policy change is required and the current situation of
mental health in the country due to climate change.

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References
Barnes, C. M., & Drake, C. L. (2015). Prioritizing sleep health: public health policy
recommendations. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(6), 733-737.
Barrett, B., Charles, J. W., &Temte, J. L. (2015). Climate change, human health, and
epidemiological transition. Preventive medicine, 70, 69-75.
Climate Changes Health: Mental Wellness. (2020). Retrieved 8 February 2020, from
https://www.apha.org/topics-and-issues/climate-change/mental-wellness
Cunsolo, A., & Ellis, N. R. (2018). Ecological grief as a mental health response to climate
change-related loss. Nature Climate Change, 8(4), 275.
Daskivich, T. J., Jardine, D. A., Tseng, J., Correa, R., Stagg, B. C., Jacob, K. M., & Harwood, J.
L. (2015). Promotion of wellness and mental health awareness among physicians in
training: the perspective of a national, multispecialty panel of residents and
fellows. Journal of graduate medical education, 7(1), 143-147.
Eckelman, M. J., & Sherman, J. (2016). Environmental impacts of the US health care system and
effects on public health. PloS one, 11(6), e0157014.
Hayes, K., Blashki, G., Wiseman, J., Burke, S., &Reifels, L. (2018). Climate change and mental
health: Risks, impacts and priority actions. International journal of mental health
systems, 12(1), 28.
Pinzone, M., Guerci, M., Lettieri, E., & Redman, T. (2016). Progressing in the change journey
towards sustainability in healthcare: the role of ‘Green’HRM. Journal of Cleaner
Production, 122, 201-211.