The Time is Now: Climate Change and Aging Adults’ Mental Health

Climate change is a major public health emergency, with significant consequences to not only physical health, but also to mental health across the lifespan. Aging adults are more likely to be exposed and vulnerable to heat waves and extreme weather events (e.g., hurricanes, floods), poor air quality, and vector-borne infectious diseases. Risk factors include chronic medical conditions; limited mobility due to medical or neurological disease (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease); sensory deficits; cognitive impairment; polypharmacy; psychiatric illness; linguistic isolation; and living alone or having limited support. Psychiatric impacts of climate change include new-onset or exacerbation of existing symptoms of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, sleep disturbances, and cognitive impairment, in addition to eco-distress (anticipatory anxiety about climate change and its consequences). Following a brief overview of the mental health impacts of climate change across the lifespan, we will review age-specific and socio-economic-cultural determinants which increase the risk of adverse outcomes for this vulnerable population. We will discuss the prevalence and phenomenology of psychiatric conditions that can occur in aging adults exposed to heat waves and/or natural disasters. Using a diversity and health equity lens, we will provide tips for clinicians to help facilitate discussions about climate change and its mental health impacts. We will review the extant evidence focused on treatment interventions and propose adaptation and resilience-enhancing strategies. Finally, we will discuss effective communication strategies regarding this crucial topic.