Climate related disasters increasing mental health risks in India, says KGMU study | Lucknow News

Lucknow: Climate-related disasters are taking a toll on mental health in India. A recent large-scale review by King George’s Medical University (KGMU) highlights the psychological impact of extreme weather events and climate change across the country.The research, led by Prof Adarsh Tripathi of the KGMU psychiatry department, was published in the International Journal of Social Psychiatry. It reviewed data from 75 studies covering 88 lakh individuals. The study examined the link between climate-related distress and its psychological effects, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups, including women, the elderly, and other at-risk populations. Discussing the primary findings, Prof Tripathi said, “Our review reports a high prevalence of mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression after extreme weather events such as floods, cyclones, tsunamis, and air pollution. We commonly found subclinical conditions like sleep disturbances, stress, and fear, alongside positive outcomes such as resilience and post-traumatic growth.” The study identified specific demographic and socioeconomic factors that significantly influence mental health outcomes. The synthesis of data revealed clear patterns of risk and protection among the affected populations. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was the most frequently studied condition, appearing in 53% of the reviewed papers, followed by depression (51%) and anxiety (40%). “We identified that female gender, older age, financial instability, low education levels, and the degree of disaster exposure were the major risk factors contributing to negative psychological outcomes,” Prof Tripathi explained. “Conversely, our analysis showed that social support, a high level of education, and high socioeconomic status consistently emerged as key protective factors that help mitigate the psychological toll on individuals.” The review also noted positive mental health outcomes, with resilience being the most frequently studied positive factor (9%), followed by post-traumatic growth (PTG) at 5%. These findings suggest that while psychological distress is severe, there are pathways to positive adaptation in the aftermath of such events. He emphasised the need to incorporate mental health services into disaster management and climate adaptation strategies to better support affected communities. “The findings imply a critical need for having practical strategies for community-based resilience for the at-risk population, starting at policy planning levels to address climate-related psychological distress,” noted Prof Tripathi. “Our review also highlights the need for further research to define and measure the psychological impact in the context of climate-induced heat, particularly in underrepresented regions.”