Soaring seas, forest fires and deadly drought: climate change conspiracies and mental health. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jack, Alexander; Panchal, Reena
• Is Part Of: BJPsych bulletin. Volume 45:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 210
• Page End: 215
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Psychotic disorders -- depressive disorders -- personality disorders -- phenomenology -- schizophrenia; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 616.8905
• DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2021.7
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-4694

Abstract

Summary: There is scientific consensus that anthropogenic climate change is real and that it provides an existential threat to humanity and the planet. In this article, we focus on climate change conspiracy theories and the impact of such beliefs on mental health. We discuss the psychiatric disorders that might be relevant to conspiracy belief endorsement and we present the underlying psychological mechanisms. We note that there is little to no literature to associate beliefs about climate change with serious mental health conditions. However, we anticipate that such beliefs may manifest pathologically in psychiatric presentations as climate change becomes increasingly at the forefront of the global agenda.