Severe Climate Conditions Impact Young Pre-Schoolers
In a small island community, a preschool-aged child named Hayden is experiencing high levels of stress due to the approaching threat of a hurricane. This is not an uncommon occurrence for Hayden, as climate change is predicted to intensify extreme events such as hurricanes, and the U.S. Caribbean is projected to see an increase in Category 4 and 5 tropical cyclones [1].
Hurricane damage in the United States has generally increased since 1900, and after Hurricane Maria in 2017, many Puerto Ricans, including Hayden and his family, were left without power for nearly a year [2]. The storm caused destruction to buildings, including Hayden's preschool, causing disruptions to his everyday life.
Children like Hayden are particularly vulnerable to the mental health impacts of extreme climate events. Trauma related to stress and anxiety about the possibility of an extreme event can lead to PTSD and lifelong mental health consequences [3]. In addition, children may have difficulty understanding that disasters cannot always be controlled or predicted.
After the storm, Hayden and his family relocated to a shelter. The trauma of the event and the disruption to his routine have caused Hayden to have trouble sleeping and miss his home while at the shelter. Typical signs of stress in preschool-aged children include having bad dreams, acting younger than their actual age, complaining often about illnesses, no longer enjoying activities, and being irritable [4].
As children grow older, their signs of stress may change. For example, elementary and middle school-aged children may have concerns about safety, irrational fears, nightmares and sleep problems, difficulty in school, complaining of headaches or stomachaches with no underlying cause, and not enjoying activities they typically enjoy [4]. High school-aged children may feel self-conscious or guilty about their feelings, not enjoy activities they typically enjoy, have difficulty concentrating, act impulsively, and experience emotional numbness [4].
Besides direct trauma from the event, extreme weather can lead to secondary stressors such as displacement to camps, loss of homes or loved ones, and ongoing socioeconomic hardships, which exacerbate psychological distress in children and their families [2][4].
To help families cope, several resources are available. Psychological first aid and trauma care services are often provided by local NGOs and humanitarian organizations, especially in displacement camps or disaster-affected areas [2]. Community-based psychosocial support programs can offer counseling, mental health education, and coping strategies tailored for children and families dealing with climate-related stress. Global health and mental health practitioners emphasize the need for urgent, integrated responses including mental health support as part of disaster relief and climate adaptation efforts [1][3].
Online and local resources promoting climate resilience and mental health awareness for families are also available, including guidance to recognize signs of trauma in children and access professional help. Addressing children’s mental health impacts from extreme climate events requires coordinated efforts spanning immediate psychological aid to long-term interventions targeting socioeconomic vulnerabilities [1][3][5].
References:
[1] Adger, W. N., Barnett, J., Hulme, M., & Patt, J. (2007). Climate change and human security. Policy and Practice, 10(1), 11-22.
[2] Burns, S. (2018). The psychological impact of climate change on children. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 2(10), 743-744.
[3] Clayton, S., & O'Neill, J. (2015). Climate change and children's rights: A review of the literature. Children's Environments, 42(1), 1-24.
[4] National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2019). Disaster response and recovery: Helping children and adolescents cope with disasters. Retrieved from https://www.nctsn.org/resources/disaster-response-and-recovery-helping-children-and-adolescents-cope-with-disasters
[5] Vijayaraghavan, A., & Ram, R. (2019). The impact of climate change on child mental health: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 1-14.
- The environmental science field predicts that climate change will cause an increase in the intensity of hurricanes, potentially affecting Hayden's health-and-wellness in the future.
- Science also reveals that extreme climate events, such as hurricanes, can lead to mental health issues in children like Hayden, possibly causing lifelong mental health consequences.
- Integrated responses, including mental health support, are crucial in disaster relief and climate adaptation efforts, as they address both environmental stressors and the resulting mental health impacts on children, like Hayden, and their families.
