sj-pdf-1-cpx-10.1177_21677026211040787 – Supplemental material for Climate Change and Children’s Mental Health: A Developmental Perspective

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-cpx-10.1177_21677026211040787 for Climate Change and Children’s Mental Health: A Developmental Perspective by Francis Vergunst and Helen L. Berry in Clinical Psychological Science</p

The Importance of Humidity in the Relationship between Heat and Population Mental Health: Evidence from Australia

<div><p>Despite many studies on the effects of heat on mental health, few studies have examined humidity. In order to investigate the relationship among heat, humidity and mental health, we matched data from the Social, Economic and Environmental Factors (SEEF) project with gridded daily temperature and water vapour pressure data from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Logit models were employed to describe the associations among heat (assessed using temperature, °C), humidity (assessed using vapour pressure, hPa) and two measures of mental health, (i) high or very high distress (assessed using K10 scores ≥ 22) and (ii) having been treated for depression or anxiety. We found a one-unit increase in temperature and vapour pressure was associated with an increase in the occurrence of high or very high distress by 0.2% (<i>p</i> < 0.001, 99% CI: 0.1–0.3%) and 0.1% (<i>p</i> < 0.001, 99% CI: 0.0–0.3%) respectively. However, when humidity rose to the 99^<i>th</i> percentile of the sample, the estimated marginal effect of heat was more than doubled (0.5%, <i>p</i> < 0.001, 99% CI: 0.2–0.7%). Neither heat nor humidity was related to having been treated for depression or anxiety in the last month. Humidity compounds the negative association between hot weather and mental health and thus should be taken into account when reforming the health care system to respond to the challenge of climate change.</p></div

Marginal effects of humidity on high or very high distress and on receiving treatment for depression or anxiety by temperature and their 99% confidential intervals, Logit model (Model 4), 53,144 adults aged over 45 from NSW, Australia.

<p>Marginal effects of humidity on high or very high distress and on receiving treatment for depression or anxiety by temperature and their 99% confidential intervals, Logit model (Model 4), 53,144 adults aged over 45 from NSW, Australia.</p

Marginal effects of heat on high or very high distress and on receiving treatment for depression or anxiety by humidity (vapour pressure) and their 99% confidential intervals, Logit model (Model 4), 53,144 adults aged over 45 from NSW, Australia.

<p>Marginal effects of heat on high or very high distress and on receiving treatment for depression or anxiety by humidity (vapour pressure) and their 99% confidential intervals, Logit model (Model 4), 53,144 adults aged over 45 from NSW, Australia.</p

The associations between temperature (heat), vapour pressure (humidity) and mental health, Logit model for 53,144 adults aged over 45 from NSW, Australia.

<p>The associations between temperature (heat), vapour pressure (humidity) and mental health, Logit model for 53,144 adults aged over 45 from NSW, Australia.</p

Non-linear associations between temperature (heat), vapour pressure (humidity) and mental health, Logit model, 53,144 adults aged over 45 from NSW, Australia.

<p>Non-linear associations between temperature (heat), vapour pressure (humidity) and mental health, Logit model, 53,144 adults aged over 45 from NSW, Australia.</p

Proportions of respondents by socio-demographic characteristics and humidity status.

<p>Proportions of respondents by socio-demographic characteristics and humidity status.</p

Table_1_Differential Mental Health Impact Six Months After Extensive River Flooding in Rural Australia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Through an Equity Lens.docx

Background: Northern New South Wales in Australia is a “hotspot” for natural disaster declarations with recent extensive flooding in early 2017. With limited knowledge about how climate change affects mental health and resilience, robust local assessments are required to better understand long-term impact, particularly in communities prone to extreme weather events.Methods: Six months post-flood, a cross-sectional survey of adults living in the region during the flood was conducted to quantify associations between flood impact and psychological morbidity (post-traumatic stress (PTSD), anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation) for different exposure scenarios, and respondent groups. We adopted a community-academic partnership approach and purposive recruitment to increase participation from marginalized groups.Results: Of 2,180 respondents, almost all (91%) were affected by some degree of flood-related exposure at an individual and community level (ranging from suburb damage to home or business inundated). Socio-economically marginalized respondents were more likely to have their homes inundated and to be displaced. Mental health risk was significantly elevated for respondents: whose home/business/farm was inundated [e.g., home inundation: PTSD adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 13.72 (99% CI 4.53–41.56)]; who reported multiple exposures [e.g., three exposures: PTSD AOR 6.43 (99% CI 2.11–19.60)]; and who were still displaced after 6 months [e.g., PTSD AOR 24.43 (99% CI 7.05–84.69)].Conclusion: The 2017 flood had profound impact, particularly for respondents still displaced and for socio-economically marginalized groups. Our community-academic partnership approach builds community cohesion, informs targeted mental health disaster preparedness and response policies for different sectors of the community and longer-term interventions aimed at improving community adaptability to climate change.</p