However, for Miriam (not her real name), an environmental studies student at a local university, clear skies bring no comfort – only anxiety that unsettling weather events are far from over.
Her unease arises from a recent thunderstorm that caused trees to fall in the city centre, reminding her of a nerve-wracking experience when she had to walk through heavy rain to reach the nearest LRT station after class.
During the intense heatwaves from March to May this year, Mariam found herself sleepless, kept awake by the oppressive heat and thoughts of the worsening climate crisis.
“I sometimes feel hopeless when I read about how our planet is deteriorating. Disasters like flash floods, heatwaves and air pollution seem to be happening everywhere, mostly due to human activities like open burning and the use of fossil fuels.
“Unplanned development, which severely damages the environment, also makes me anxious. The sinkhole incident on Jalan Masjid India, for example, has made me fearful of walking down the street,” she told Bernama, referring to the 48-year-old Indian tourist who fell into an 8m sinkhole on Aug 23.
What Mariam is experiencing is eco-anxiety, also known as climate anxiety, where individuals become increasingly distressed about the future due to the impact of climate change.
According to Google data, global searches related to “climate anxiety” or “eco-anxiety” surged by some 4,590% between 2018 and 2023. The two most frequently searched questions were “what is eco-anxiety?” and “how to deal with climate anxiety?”
Dr Britt Wray from Stanford Psychiatry said climate anxiety should not be dismissed as overreacting or catastrophising, but rather recognised as a healthy response to a very real existential threat. However, she also noted that action alone is not a cure.
“As more people become aware of the climate crisis and the emotional dominos that follow, the demand for resources and support continues to grow,” she said.
Wray suggested several resources to help navigate the emotional complexities of climate issues, one of which is to reframe such concern as a source of connection, even though it can often feel isolating.
“We often sit in silence with our difficult eco-emotions. Authentic conversations about how we’re feeling, in a space where those emotions are welcomed, can be both comforting and empowering, while also unleashing creativity.
“Sometimes, you just need to express your climate-related feelings with others who understand,” she explained.
Wray also noted that it might be a good time to seek out a climate-aware therapist if you find yourself feeling depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed.
A different case in Malaysia
Meanwhile, eco-anxiety is less likely to be at the forefront of a fair number of Malaysians’ minds as the general awareness of how climate change affects our country is fairly low.
“This is because the changes in Malaysia’s climate are not as erratic as those in the global north,” noted environmental psychology expert Ooi Wee Liam from Monash University Malaysia.
“While worsening, events like heatwaves and air pollution likely lead to stress and anxiety, stemming from the discomfort and physiological responses they may experience during these events, and not so much eco-anxiety”, he said.
Eco-anxiety, he explained, relates more to concerns and uncertainty surrounding climate change and its potential effects on humankind.
Still, Ooi acknowledged there have been signs of a shift this year: heatwaves in Malaysia have lasted longer and become more intense than in previous years, and particularly affect vulnerable groups that may struggle to cope with high temperatures.
“In communities that cannot manage or escape the heat and air pollution, the situation can be more detrimental because the discomfort lasts for most of the day and for extended periods. This puts them at a higher risk of experiencing mental health issues,” he pointed out.
According to Ooi, people have reported worsening levels of mental health, including stress, anxiety, and depression, after natural disasters or extreme events such as floods.
“These events have also been linked to post-traumatic stress disorder, as floods can lead to economic losses, fear of death, and both short- and long-term effects on wellbeing.”
More data needed
Globally, the connection between climate change and psychosocial wellbeing has been discussed within frameworks of emergency and disaster management.
But a study by Institut Masa Depan Malaysia’s Policy Development Programme indicates there has been no research on how to influence policy, or what form this policy should take in strengthening the local community’s mental capacity to cope with climate impacts.
The study also highlights that while the Malaysian National Policy on Climate Change acknowledges changes in weather patterns could affect human wellbeing and the environment, it does not explicitly mention mental health.
Echoing these findings, Ooi stressed that attention to the effects of the climate on mental health is on the rise globally but not so much locally.
“As such, it is time for us to focus on how climate events and disasters impact not only physical health but the mental health of Malaysians,” he concluded.