As climate change intensifies, its psychological toll—ranging from anxiety to trauma—is emerging as a critical public health issue. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 9 (Korea Bizwire) — As climate change intensifies, its psychological toll—ranging from anxiety to trauma—is emerging as a critical public health issue, prompting experts in South Korea to call for an integrated mental health support system.
At the Climate Health Forum hosted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and the Korean Society for Preventive Medicine on July 8, Shim Min-young, director of the National Center for Trauma, warned that extreme weather events like heatwaves and wildfires are contributing to rising rates of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Citing data from the 2019 Gangwon wildfires, Shim noted that 65% of those affected reported insomnia and 58% experienced anxiety, with one in four experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress. About 13% required psychiatric treatment.
But beyond trauma from direct exposure to disasters, Shim emphasized the growing impact of climate anxiety, particularly among adolescents and young adults. “This isn’t just emotional distress—it’s shaping decisions about education, careers, relationships, and even whether to have children,” she said.
While climate anxiety is not yet classified as a mental disorder, global institutions such as the World Health Organization have recognized it as an emerging mental health challenge. Shim called for a nationwide survey and generation-specific mental health strategies to address it.
She also advocated for explicit inclusion of mental health indicators and predictive analysis in the country’s Climate Health Impact Assessment, a five-year policy review conducted by the KDCA to mitigate climate-related health risks.
As South Korea prepares its second national assessment for next year, the KDCA announced plans to expand the scope and granularity of the evaluation. “A systematic, science-based understanding of climate change’s impact on public health is essential for shaping responsive policy,” said KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee.
The agency plans to incorporate the forum’s recommendations into its forthcoming assessment and develop policies that South Koreans can tangibly experience—supported by legal and institutional frameworks.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
