Extreme weather events entail dealing with loss of treasured possessions, property, but most importantly loss of security and trust in the future. Where there is loss, there is grief.
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Dealing with grief is a complex process entailing sadness, anger, despair and depression – but over time, people can recover from grief as they accept their losses and gradually build a path for the future.
However, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent or more intense, having to deal with repeated loss can impede the recovery process.
As people recognise climate change is behind these extreme weather events, their grief often deepens as they realise how uncertain the future is. They worry intergenerational farms, properties and treasured possessions cannot be passed onto children. The damage and loss of familiar neighbourhoods all adds to the toll.
The stress of uncertainty inevitably challenges people’s normal resilience, which may impact families and communities. For example, domestic violence occurs when people become stressed by life feeling out of their control and take their frustration out on loved ones. Others may turn to gambling, alcohol or drug use in the hope to recover losses or deal with sadness and despair.
More frequent extreme weather events will trigger and exacerbate this reactivity as people experience loss of security and wellbeing - now more than ever, people need each other for support and to build a sense of community. Psychological support will be key to help create a space for expression and healing.
However psychological support cannot change reality. We must recognise that incremental change to business as usual will not be adequate to create a safe future. We need an emergency action plan for climate change.