The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident in Peru and across the region: unprecedented wildfires, droughts, floods, landslides, and other phenomena are occurring with growing frequency. How do these events affect people’s physical and mental health? We spoke with Dr. Elaine Flores Ramos, PhD in Epidemiology from The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Master’s in Epidemiological Research Sciences from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Elaine has an outstanding research career focused on the mental health impacts of natural disasters.
How does climate change affect people’s health, including their mental health?
When we talk about climate change or global warming, we often think of distant phenomena, such as melting glaciers or species extinction. However, its effects are already deeply present in our daily lives, especially in a diverse country like Peru. These impacts affect our physical and mental health in multiple, interconnected ways, with each factor further intensifying the other.
First, we must recognize the strong link between physical health and mental health. In terms of the impacts of climate change on physical health, we are seeing an increase in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria. This is highly concerning because, for example, the air we breathe becomes more polluted, especially following events such as the recent wildfires. Likewise, changes in rainfall patterns affect food production, leading to food insecurity and malnutrition. In addition, glacier retreat is also altering water supply, affecting many communities.
Beyond physical health, climate change has a profound impact on our mental health. In research, new concepts have emerged in this context, such as “eco-anxiety,” which refers to persistent concern about the future of the planet, and “solastalgia,” which describes the distress we experience when witnessing drastic changes to places that are familiar and meaningful to us, such as the loss of lakes, species, and forests. Being direct or indirect witnesses to these changes (for example, through social media or television) generates anxiety and stress.
And this not only generates concern, but can also intensify mental health challenges among people who are already experiencing conditions such as depression or anxiety, as is the case for a significant proportion of our population. These effects are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, and when combined with social challenges such as poverty and insecurity, they are creating cycles of distress that can be extremely difficult to break.
How do environmental disasters impact the mental health of people directly exposed to them?
Environmental disasters, such as the recent wildfires in the Amazon and the Andes, have a profound and long-lasting impact on the mental health of people directly exposed to them. These events not only devastate the physical environment, but also generate a range of emotional challenges that deeply affect communities. Many people develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), repeatedly reliving the trauma through nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts about the destruction of their homes and natural surroundings. Depression is also common, particularly among those who have lost their livelihoods, leading to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness as their future becomes uncertain. Anxiety can become chronic, fueled by the constant fear of future similar disasters and by the perception that official responses are not sufficiently timely or effective, a situation further exacerbated by the continuous exposure to alarming images in the media.
In addition to these challenges, affected individuals may experience sleep disorders, which interfere with their ability to rest adequately and further worsen physical and emotional exhaustion. In some cases, substance and alcohol use can become a coping mechanism for dealing with stress and anxiety, creating a vicious cycle of mental health challenges. Another significant impact is complicated grief, in which people struggle to process the loss of loved ones, homes, or livelihoods. This grief can become prolonged and more intense over time, severely affecting their ability to move forward.
What is most concerning is that these psychological effects do not disappear when the last fire is extinguished; on the contrary, they can persist for years, affecting entire communities.
Elaine Flores Ramos
Which groups are most vulnerable to these impacts? Are there differences based on gender, age, or other sociodemographic characteristics?
Environmental disasters do not affect everyone in the same way, and certain groups are more vulnerable to developing mental health challenges following these events. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable, as they may develop fears and psychological difficulties that persist into adulthood, given that their ability to process these traumatic experiences is still developing. Older adults, who are often more isolated and have limited mobility, face a greater risk of feeling helpless and abandoned, which can intensify the emotional impact of a disaster.
Women are also a vulnerable group, as they often assume caregiving roles within their families and communities, exposing them to higher levels of emotional stress, particularly during crisis situations. In addition, several studies have shown that women report higher rates of post-traumatic stress and depression following disasters. Indigenous communities and small-scale farmers are particularly affected, as the loss of ancestral lands represents not only an economic setback, but also the disruption of their identity, culture, and traditional ways of life. This deep connection with the land makes the emotional impacts even more profound and difficult to overcome.
Other groups at risk include people with pre-existing mental health conditions, who may experience a worsening of their symptoms due to the extreme stress caused by a disaster. Likewise, first responders, such as firefighters and rescue workers, often face secondary trauma and emotional exhaustion after continuous exposure to critical situations.
In the case of wildfires, how has this impact on mental health been evidenced?
Wildfires, such as those that have devastated the Amazon, have shown severe and long-lasting impacts on the mental health of affected populations. These disasters not only destroy the natural environment, but also generate acute and chronic stress, as many communities live in a constant state of alert due to the possibility of new fires. Previous research has shown that direct exposure to major wildfires significantly increases the risk of mental health challenges, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety, as well as cognitive impairment associated with inflammation caused by exposure to polluted air. These effects can persist for months or even years, as demonstrated by studies on wildfires in other countries.
For communities that depend on the Amazon, the loss is not only material, but also cultural and spiritual, intensifying feelings of grief and displacement. The forced displacement of entire families creates a sense of disorientation and uprootedness that can contribute to mental health challenges.
These effects are further amplified by economic losses, as the destruction of crops and livelihoods increases levels of hopelessness among affected communities. The emotional impact is particularly severe among Indigenous populations, where the loss of the forest also represents the loss of identity, adding a dimension of cultural grief. The mental health consequences can persist and intensify over time, affecting people’s ability to rebuild their lives and return to a sense of normalcy, even many years after the event.
What measures can be taken by the government, the private sector, and civil society to address these challenges?
In response to the mental health impacts of environmental disasters, a coordinated response from the government, the private sector, and civil society is required. At the government level, it is essential to strengthen community mental health programs by adapting them to the specific needs of affected areas, such as the Amazon and the Andes, while ensuring effective coordination between the Ministries of Health and Environment, as well as regional governments and municipalities. It is also crucial to implement prevention and rapid response policies for wildfires, incorporating the traditional knowledge of Indigenous communities, which have demonstrated their capacity for adaptation and environmental stewardship over centuries.
The private sector has a crucial role to play, particularly companies operating in vulnerable areas, such as those involved in ecotourism and sustainable agriculture. These organizations can invest in reforestation programs and provide psychosocial support to affected communities, while also implementing corporate sustainability or social responsibility policies that incorporate mental health into their commitments to local well-being.
Civil society, for its part, can lead awareness campaigns that highlight the relationship between climate change and mental health, as well as build community support networks that provide psychological first aid in affected areas. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a key role in mobilizing resources, advocating for more effective policies, and training community leaders in climate resilience and mental health.
As a joint measure, it would be ideal to establish rapid response teams that include mental health professionals, allowing for comprehensive interventions during critical moments. It is also necessary to develop training programs that strengthen community resilience, promoting adaptation to environmental changes and mitigating their psychological impacts. The challenges are significant, but so is our capacity for adaptation and resilience. By working together, we can protect both mental health and the environment.
#EveryoneForMentalHealth
