Mental Health Awareness Month may be coming to a close but a Michigan expert says the emotional toll of climate change is not going away.

Mental health professionals say extreme weather events can intensify depression and anxiety.

Derrick Sebree, a therapist and MA program director at the Michigan School of Psychology, said climate-related stress often hits hardest in vulnerable communities.

“A lot of what I've started to see in my research is just the disproportionate impacts that climate tends to have on the mental health of front line communities, particularly folks here in the Metro Detroit area,” Sebree explained.

He pointed out underserved communities, including rural areas, are often already struggling with crises such as housing, food insecurity and limited access to health care. Extreme weather events only make such challenges worse, he added. Mental health advocates said help is available through the 24-hour national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

When people think about weather affecting mental health, the “winter blues” often come to mind. But according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, the state is also seeing growing concern over intense heat and heavy precipitation events.

Sebree noted research shows some medications can affect the body’s ability to regulate temperature during heat waves.

“Extreme heat tends to exacerbate mental health emergencies, tends to have an impact on people who take antidepressant medication particularly,” Sebree outlined.

According to state data, Michigan’s average temperature has risen nearly 3 degrees since the early 1900s. Sebree argued more education is needed to help people recognize the connection between climate-related stress and mental health.

Source: Public News Service