Climate Change is an Emerging Threat to Perinatal Mental Health

Abstract

Objective: In this discussion, we build the case for why climate change is an emerging threat to perinatal mental health. Method: A search of current literature on perinatal and maternal mental health and extreme weather events was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science databases. Only articles focusing on maternal mental health were included in this narrative review. Results: The perinatal period represents a potentially challenging timeframe for women for several reasons. Necessary role adjustments (reprioritization), changes in one’s ability to access pre-birth levels (and types) of social support, fluctuating hormones, changes in body shape, and possible complications during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum are just a few of the factors that can impact perinatal mental health. Trauma is also a risk factor for negative mood symptoms and can be experienced as the result of many different types of events, including exposure to extreme weather/natural disasters. Conclusion: While the concepts of “eco-anxiety,” “climate despair,” and “climate anxiety” have garnered attention in the mainstream media, there is little to no discussion of how the climate crisis impacts maternal mental health. This is an important omission as the mother’s mental health impacts the family unit as a whole.

Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change for Birthing People and the Provider's Role

“…As Barkin et al 9 so aptly state,

Our changing climate is highly relevant to clinicians including obstetric and pediatric providers who are tasked with evaluating women for perinatal depression and anxiety. As the effects of climate change continue to broaden geographically, more patients will be affected, requiring providers to screen for mental wellness and adjust their advisement and approaches with environmental factors in mind.

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“…Climate change concerns are gaining momentum as the impacts to our physical and mental health become more defined, but there is a distinct clinical care and research gap around climate change and the mental health of the perinatal population. Barkin et al 9 have produced the most comprehensive summary of research related to climate change as an emerging threat to perinatal mental health; however, they acknowledge "In terms of the mental health effects of climate change, the child population has been a primary focus while the impacts on pregnant and postpartum women have exacted less attention." 9(p 2) A scoping review by Ma et al 10 found that 92 studies focused primarily on the traumatic impacts following exposure to a natural disaster but only 4 studies examined the climate change and mental health impacts for younger people.…”

The Climate Crisis and Breastfeeding: Opportunities for Resilience

“…These factors can increase postpartum depression and reduce maternal–infant bonding. Overarching concerns related to eco-anxiety can overwhelm postpartum parents with existing maternal stresses and allostatic load, elevating the need to develop tools that will predict communities and individuals who are experiencing the highest levels of climate-related hazards with a goal of reducing stress and increasing resilience (Barkin et al, 2022; Olson & Metz, 2020).…”

Mental health impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on mothers

“…Despite these impacts being felt worldwide, some populations are disproportionately affected. For example, women and mothers are at an increased risk of experiencing burden due to climate change (Al Gasseer et al, 2004 ; Barkin et al, 2022 ; IPCC, 2014 ; Sato et al, 2016 ). This increased risk is in part due to the distribution of roles, resources, and decision-making power of this population, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (Sorensen et al, 2018 ).…”

“…While there are many events in a person’s lifetime that can qualify as traumatic, including those specifically related to the maternal period (for example, neonatal loss, preterm birth, or traumatic birth experiences), the focus of this piece is the trauma borne out of exposure to EWEs (Jeffers et al, 2022 ). Earlier reviews on the nexus between environmental disasters and perinatal mental health have shown that the severity of exposure is a predictor of mental health issues, for example, negative mood symptoms, among pregnant and postpartum women (Barkin et al, 2022 ; Veenema et al, 2023 ). Evidence suggests that the climate crisis influences women's choices when it comes to deciding whether or not to have children (Smith et al, 2023 ), and that even indirect experience of weather events is a concern for mothers (Harville et al, 2010 ).…”