When the land moves: People in two rows of houses at Jalan E6 in Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, were advised to evacuate following a recent landslide. — SHAARI CHEMAT/ The Star
FOR most, a sunny morning after days of rain and thunderstorms brings a sense of relief, offering a chance to enjoy outdoor activities uninterrupted.
However, for an Environmental Studies student at a local university, who prefers to be known only as Mariam (not her real name), the clear skies bring no comfort – only anxiety that these unsettling weather events are far from over.
Her uneasiness arises from a recent thunderstorm that caused trees to fall in the Kuala Lumpur city centre, reminding her of a nerve-wracking experience when she had to walk through heavy rain and a thunderstorm 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 high use of fossil fuels.
“Unplanned development, which severely damages the environment, also makes me anxious. The sinkhole incident at Jalan Masjid India in August, for example, has made me fearful of walking down the street, fearing I might step into a sinkhole,” she says.
On Aug 23, a sinkhole in the area in KL “suddenly appeared” and fatally swallowed up 48- year-old Indian tourist Vijaya letchumy, who was walking down the road near Malayan Mansion. The cause of the sinkhole is still being investigated.
What Mariam is experiencing is eco-anxiety, also known as climate anxiety – a condition in which individuals become increasingly distressed due to the impacts of climate change.
While this anxiety is usually related to the future impacts of climate change on the Earth, and felt especially by the young, experts say more and more people from other generations and walks of life are experiencing it, according to this report by Bernama. ALSO READ: Resources needed to help cope with climate anxiety
A real anxiety
Climate change has led to more frequent and extreme weather events around the world, such as wildfires, storms, floods, heatwaves, and droughts – and Malaysia is not exempted. And as we witness more of these events, we are increasingly being exposed to traumatic incidents, including injury and death.
According to Google’s data from November 2023, global searches related to “climate anxiety” or “eco-anxiety” surged by 4,590% between 2018 and 2023.
The two most frequently Googled questions were “What is eco-anxiety?” and “How to deal with climate anxiety?”
Like the rest of the world, climate anxiety is also a growing mental health concern in Malaysia, notes Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA) president Prof Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj.
And this is seen in the increasing number of cases of climate anxiety among those who reach out to MMHA for assistance, he says.
“While in some countries climate change and its impact on the landscape and human existence is more pronounced, in Malaysia too we are witnessing horrible impacts of extreme weather events and climate change.
“There have been losses of life, injuries, destruction of property, and disruptions in routine,” says Dr Mohanraj.
Dr Mohanraj: While in some countries climate change and its impact on the landscape and human existence is more pronounced, in Malaysia too we are witnessing horrible impacts of extreme weather events and climate change.
He adds there is also an increase in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on past exposures to extreme weather events.
“It has become more challenging to simply move on after a disaster like in the past.
“Repeated occurrences of climate change-related disasters also keep people edgy, for example whenever there is heavy rainfall, anxiety levels will also rise, with many fearing another flood or landslide.”
Mental health counsellor, researcher, and trainer Dr Arman Rashid agrees that climate anxiety, or eco-anxiety, is a growing mental health issue in Malaysia.
“It is evident from both research findings and practitioner experience that climate anxiety, or eco-anxiety, is a growing mental health issue in Malaysia.
“We have witnessed escalating emotional distress over climate disasters like floods, heatwaves, and landslides, which can be either anticipatory in nature or in the aftermath of a crisis.”
Dr Arman points out that several recent studies indicate a high prevalence of climate anxiety ranging from 60% to 90% among different population groups in Malaysia.
“Youth are often most affected by climate disasters posing an existential threat to our health, wellbeing, and livelihoods, particularly in the face of devastating floods. The trends are similar in global studies as well.”
Dr Arman: Several recent studies indicate a high prevalence of climate anxiety ranging from 60% to 90% among different population groups in Malaysia.
He says many mental health professionals have also noted that they are witnessing a similar trend of growing climate anxiety in their client populations.
“Though clients may not be necessarily aware of technical jargon like ‘climate anxiety’ or ‘eco-anxiety’, they have shown increasing distress over natural disasters like flash floods.
“In recent years, Malaysia has unfortunately experienced frequent floods causing significant loss of lives and property, and threatening safety across the country. In fact, I am aware of some families being evacuated several times from their homes in flood-prone areas, causing prolonged emotional distress for all age groups.”
Dr Arman explains that climate anxiety is often characterised by fear, helplessness, and insecurity in those who have been affected or are at risk from natural disasters.
“This may result in stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and in some severe cases, PTSD.
“There are also overwhelming feelings of despair, uncertainty, and powerlessness due to the unpredictable nature and impacts of climate disasters, particularly floods.
“Climate anxiety poses an existential threat and takes a toll on mental health, while affecting livelihoods, food security and family planning,” he says.
ALSO READ: Malaysian youth are very concerned about the climate
While he acknowledges that there have been signs of a shift this year, Monash University Malaysia Environmental Psychology expert Dr Ooi Wee Liam, however, believes that eco-anxiety is less likely to be at the forefront of a fair number of Malaysians’ minds for now as the general awareness of how climate change affects Malaysia is fairly low.
“This is because the changes in Malaysia’s climate are not as erratic as those in the global North,” he says.
“While worsening, events like heatwaves and periods of air pollution would more likely be linked to stress and anxiety stemming from the discomfort and physiological responses [eg disrupted sleep] they may experience during these events, not eco-anxiety.
“This is because eco-anxiety is a form of anxiety that relates more to concerns and uncertainty surrounding climate change and its potential effects on oneself. Some Malaysians may be unaware that the increased and worsening occurrences of these climate events in the country are due to climate change or environmental degradation,” he says.
He nonetheless notes that heatwaves in Malaysia are lasting longer and have become more intense than in previous years, particularly affecting vulnerable communities that may struggle to cope with the intensifying heat.
“In communities where they cannot manage or escape the heat and air pollution [eg, no air-conditioning], the situation can be more detrimental because the discomfort lasts for extended periods of time. This puts them at a higher risk of experiencing mental health issues.
“The constant discomfort they face increases their stress levels, making them more irritable or agitated during heatwaves,” he says.
Since March, almost half of peninsular Malaysia has experienced peaks of at least 35°C for three straight days, according to the Meteorological Department, which expects the hot and dry spell to last until mid-April 2025.
Nasa's top climate scientist, Gavin Schmidt, recently estimated that this year is set to be the planet's warmest on record – narrowly beating 2023 as the hottest since at least the 19th century.
The extreme heat earlier this year has led to the death of a 22-year-old Malaysian from heatstroke, heightened the risk of water shortages, and caused severe loss of yields on farms.
Dr Ooi notes that a few studies have shown that after natural disasters or extreme events, such as floods, people have reported worsening levels of mental health – including stress, anxiety, and depression.
“These events have also been linked to PTSD as floods are considered traumatic experiences causing economic losses, fear of death, and both short- and long-term impacts on well-being,” he says.
The Airport Fire burns in the hills above homes in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, on September 9, 2024. Wildfires fueled by soaring temperatures in the western United States have scorched thousands of acres, forcing hundreds of families to flee, US officials said in September. — AFP
Need for more data
Globally, the connection between climate change and psychosocial wellbeing has been discussed within the health frameworks of emergency and disaster management, particularly in extreme weather conditions.
However, a study conducted by Institut Masa Depan Malaysia’s Policy Development Programme indicated that there has been no research on how to influence policy or what form the policy should take in strengthening the community’s mental capacity to cope with climate impacts.
The study also mentioned that while the Malaysian National Policy on Climate Change acknowledges that climate change impacts could affect human wellbeing and the environment, the policy does not explicitly mention mental health.
Dr Ooi points out that more attention is being paid globally to the effects of climate change on mental health, but there’s little very being done locally.
“Hence, it is time for us to focus on how climate change events and disasters can impact not only physical health but also mental health,” he says.
Dr Mohanraj agrees that more research needs to be done in Malaysia in terms of numbers and trends in climate anxiety.
“Better reporting systems, both from the giver sector and private services, can help gather robust data on this.
“The National Centre of Excellence in Mental Health can be the lead agency in this,” he says.
Dr Arman concurs.
“We are facing a rising number of climate disasters, while several studies indicate a high prevalence of climate anxiety ranging from 60% to 90% in Malaysia. This calls for in-depth quantitative and qualitative studies on the risk drivers, protective resiliencies, and psychosocial interventions related to climate anxiety.”
He says evidence-based policymaking and interventions addressing climate anxiety will require research focusing on vulnerable populations living in climate disaster-prone areas.
“We need to look at both immediate and long-term mental health support needed by communities exposed to climate disasters, including floods,” he says.
Research on climate anxiety will need a “whole of society” approach to get a complete picture, bringing together valuable data and insights from diverse stakeholders, including the government, disaster response agencies, academics, mental health professionals, humanitarian organisations, and the media, he adds.
The government can initiate collaborative projects identifying the drivers of climate anxiety and efficacy of psychosocial interventions. He highlights that the National Centre for Mental Wellbeing delivered a customised Psychological First Aid programme as a form of immediate psychosocial support for flood affected victims in Selangor and other parts of the country.
“We need research to identify best practices that can be replicated and scaled-up to empower local communities in developing coping strategies and emotional resilience in the aftermath of climate disasters,” says Dr Amran.
“We need to ensure a holistic climate disaster preparedness model that prioritises mental health prevention and intervention strategies to help vulnerable communities develop emotional resilience.”
With additional reporting by HARIATI AZIZAN, Sunday Star.
