Abstract

The paper highlights the notion that different emotional states can occur as reactions to climate change, ranging from a sense of minor distress and anxiety to mental disorders pertaining to the group of stress-related disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders and sleep disorders, all depending on the psychological resilience of individuals and the supportive factors in their surroundings and the society. It is necessary to work towards developing resilience, protective factors and mechanisms for coping with climate change at the individual as well as the community and societal levels. It is of particular importance to build resilience in sensitive individuals and populations, and to ensure the availability of adequate care and treatment with the help of the competent emergency services. The paper emphasises the importance of stress reaction prevention and adaptation to the consequences of events resulting from climate change and the early provision of psychological and psychiatric support to those in need.