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For decades, experts have been warning everyone about the impact of climate change on the environment and the future. However, its link to a person's health has been given more attention over the past few years.

Extreme temperatures are known to cause heat stroke, and pollution can cause a wide range of diseases. But aside from the physical health effects of climate change, it also has negative effects on an individual's mental health. 

A study on the California Camp Fire of 2018 alone showed that 67 percent of people who were directly exposed and 14 percent of those indirectly exposed reported having experienced trauma similar to post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. These effects can last for several years, similar to that for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In 2020, a survey found that nearly more than 50 percent of the population was stressed about climate change, while 68 percent reported having anxiety about climate change, even without experiencing natural disasters such as the California Camp Fire of 2018 and Hurricane Katrina.

Impact of climate change on the mental health of youth and women

During a recent panel discussion on Weather, Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction, Ashley Lashley talked about how climate change affects everyone's physical and mental health.

The CEO and founder of the Ashley Lashley Foundation revealed that after the organization conducted a study, they found that the youth and women are among the most affected by climate change in terms of physical and mental health. In response, they have been promoting discussions on this global issue through the HEY Campaign, launched in 2020.