The nature buffer: the missing link in climate change and mental health research

Abstract

The connections between climate change and mental health are well known (Berry et al., Int J Publ Health 55(2):123–132, 2010; Clayton and Manning 2018; Kim et al., J Environ Sci Health C 32(3):299–318, 2014). Research also points to the positive impacts of nature on mental health, well-being, and attention (Capaldi et al., Int J Wellbeing 5(4):1–16, 2015; Kaplan and Kaplan 1989; Tillmann et al., J Epidemiol Community Health 72(10):958–966, 2018). However, no empirical research has examined how degradation of nature as a result of climate change can impact the mental health benefits that nature provides. This paper first reviews the existing research on the negative mental health consequences of climate change and the benefits of nature exposure for stress, mental health, and well-being. The connection between these two lines of research is examined in order to fully understand the impacts of climate change on mental health. Suggestions for future research are included.

Turning to Nature to Process the Emotional Toll of Nature’s Destruction

“…These responses infer one of nature's benefits for wellbeing that could be lost as a result of degrading environments [25]-the benefits and contributions to a sense of place and identity [30,31], which are important for wellbeing. However, grief is not restricted to post-loss scenarios and can also emerge in anticipation of loss, especially the loss of normality and a stable, certain future [13][14][15]32]:…”

“…The ebbs and flows of decay and renewal in nature are, therefore, causing sadness, grief, anger, and anxiety, while also being at the centre of people's strategies to cope with such emotional responses (i.e., connecting and exposing oneself to nature as the "buffer" against distressing life events). The loss of these kinds of benefits from nature exposure as a result of degradation may have significant consequences for mental health and wellbeing into the future and should be further explored [25].…”

“…significant consequences for mental health and wellbeing into the future and should be further explored [25].…”

“…We posit that people feel pain when the nature that they affiliate with suffers (i.e., through drought, flooding, and bushfires), and yet they equally feel a deep and profound sense of renewal when they are (re)connected with nature or it is healthy and thriving. This reiterates that nature plays a dualistic role in our wellbeing [8,25]. Despite being the source of our great suffering when the reciprocal communion is broken, it may also be the one thing we must turn to for healing and rejuvenation [24].…”

“…In this way, the wellbeing-nature relationship is characterised by two extremes: when the "deeply bonded and reciprocal communion between humans and nature" is denied, this becomes "a source of suffering for both the physical environment and for the human psyche", while the "realization of the connection between humans and nature is healing for both" [24]. Climate change is compounding processes that significantly affect nature, and the danger of this is that the mental health benefits of nature on humans-or the "nature buffer"-may also inevitably diminish as a result of losses, degradation, and decay [25]. This short communication, while not delving deeply into eco-psychology, aims to provide insights into the emotions emerging as a consequence of changes to our environment and the destruction of nature and explore how these emotions might be worked through to enable renewal and healing.…”