How does the environment affect humans mental health?
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The environment affects your mental health in diverse and sometimes unexpected ways. Broadly defined, your environment includes the surroundings and conditions you live in, and it can impact you through both physical and psychological means. These are some of the many environmental
factors that can affect your mental functioning. An article on light, sleep and depression looked at the results of exposure to natural light in the workplace by comparing workers with and without windows. They discovered that lack of exposure to natural light was associated with high cortisol and low melatonin. Which contributed to
feelings of depression and difficulty with sleep. Conversely, research reported by Harvard Health notes that bright light therapy isn’t just for people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) who feel depressed in the winter when days get shorter. Research shows that it’s beneficial for major depressive disorder, too. Can Your Environment Affect Your Mental Health? A Psychology Today article says yes and notes that clutter can be part of the picture. One study found that people with cluttered homes felt less attached to and got less psychological comfort from them. Another study
found that people in a disorganized and messy kitchen ate more cookies and snacks than people in a “non-chaotic” kitchen, presumably because they felt more stressed and less control. Buildings, especially those that have had some sort of leak or water intrusion, can be colonized by bacteria and mold. In a study of how
environment affects your mental health, the American Journal of Public Health concluded that exposure to dampness and mold was associated with higher rates of depression. They note that it may be caused by the over-activation of the frontal cortex of the brain. Chemical contaminantsThe list of chemical exposures that can cause mental health effects is long. And so is the number of possible symptoms. The Collaborative on Health and the Environment lists more than 100 psychiatric symptoms associated with environmental triggers, including those related to mood, cognition, behavior and perception. Implicated chemicals include those found in personal care products, bug repellants, cleaners and disinfectants, furniture, paint and more. Air pollutionAir pollution, both indoors and out, is a combination of gases and solid particles. The smaller the particles are, the more easily they can evade the body’s defense system and enter the brain. In an article on pollution and mental health, Science Daily reports that people exposed to higher levels of traffic-related pollution have higher rates of mental illness. Social factorsMental health treatment programs understand the power of a positive social environment. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion lists many factors associated with good mental health, including family, interpersonal and community relationship conditions. They note that shared places for interaction, such as churches and parks, can promote positive mental health. A therapist quoted in an article entitled How Does Your Environment Affect Your Mental Health? makes a similar point, noting that it’s important for people to connect with those who share their values and culture. Otherwise, they can begin to feel isolated and depressed. Working Through How Your Environment Affects Your Mental HealthSome environmental changes are fairly easy to make, such as adding lighting, de-cluttering or changing cleaning products. Others, such as remediating mold, escaping outdoor air pollution, or dealing with difficult relationships, are more challenging but can produce significant change. Addressing mental health issues can feel overwhelming, but you’re not on the journey alone. We can help you identify and sort through your symptoms. Identify possible causes, and address them in a systemic and professional manner. We can help you change what you can and learn to cope in a healthy way with what can’t be changed, at least right now. Call us at 1.844.675.1022. We can advocate for you and help you learn to advocate for yourself. This background paper reviews available scientific evidence on the correlation between the environment and people’s mental health and well-being in Europe, and identifies solutions for policymakers.In recent years, evidence on the interplay between mental health and the environment has grown significantly, and the COVID-19 crisis adds a more urgent need for policy and decision-makers to identify and implement win-win solutions to both challenges. This paper investigates environmental degradation and pollution as a threat to mental health. It also looks into nature as an enabler of good mental health and the role of nature in the treatment of mental health conditions. Its structure logically flows from a review of the various environmental determinants of mental health towards the possible solutions and mitigating actions via nature, ecosystem services and improvement of the environment. Finally, the paper discusses how the interplay between the environment and mental health is incorporated into major policy documents and suggest ways for further integration. This paper considers the environment as one of the key determinants of mental health outcomes. Among the dimensions explored, climate change as a global environmental threat creates psychological distress and anxiety about the future. Climate change furthermore has direct impacts on mental health (e.g., heat stress) and indirectly affects social support systems, cultural traditions, and environmental conditions. Alternatively, a wealth of evidence suggests a relationship between human exposure to a wide range of chemical substances and negative mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety ASD, ADHD and other psychiatric and neurological conditions. There is also strong evidence that noise pollution (particularly coming from traffic) is linked to mental health problems, including annoyance, poor sleep, cognitive impairment, and exacerbation of psychiatric problems. Noise is particularly relevant for children, as they are particularly vulnerable, including in settings such as schools. It is important to note the existing and potential synergies of different risk factors, which concurrently can affect mental health. A combination of different risk factors creates or has the potential to generate a much stronger, cumulative impact on mental health. The reviewed studies found substantial evidence that supports an association between common types of nature experience and increased psychological well-being along with a reduction of risk factors and burden of some types of mental illness. Evidence also points to significant economic savings potential to public care budgets of better integrating mental health benefits into urban planning, especially when tailored to neighbourhoods with poor exposure and access to green spaces. The health-social benefits of nature need to be more widely recognised and nature-based solutions that not only deliver on climate but also on biodiversity and health should be scaled up as cost-effective approaches to avoid health impacts and excessive societal and budgetary costs. DownloadsHow does the environment affect your mental health?Loud noises and larger crowds can be overwhelming, which increases cortisol levels and stress. Higher rates of pollution also affect mental health. Scott points to research that shows increased rates of depression in more polluted areas.
What are 3 environmental factors that affect mental health?Substance abuse. Pollution. Exposure to toxins during childhood. Extreme weather conditions (such as excessive rain or snow)
How does the environment affect human health?Environmental pollutants can cause health problems like respiratory diseases, heart disease, and some types of cancer. People with low incomes are more likely to live in polluted areas and have unsafe drinking water. And children and pregnant women are at higher risk of health problems related to pollution.
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