Study finds wildfires are associated with a sharp increase in mental health-related emergency department visits

The Emory University study was published Thursday. natural mental health Wildfires have led to an increase in anxiety-related emergency room visits in the western United States, amplifying the alarming parallels between two escalating public health crises: mental health and climate change. There is.

The study, conducted by researchers at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, is the largest and most comprehensive study ever conducted on the association between wildfire-related exposures and anxiety disorders. There is one.

Researchers analyzed satellite data and nearly 1.9 million emergency department visits across five states (California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah) from 2007 to 2018 and found that wildfires were the leading cause of environmental pollution. showed a wildfire smoke event that caused a lot of damage. Within the zip code, mental health-related emergency department visits increased by 6.3%.

In addition to this surprising data, research shows that:

• Women, girls, and older adults are more likely to develop severe anxiety disorders related to wildfire exposure.
• Men and boys also experienced increases in anxiety disorders, but only when associated with significant smoking events.
• Evidence of enhanced disaster risk reduction and climate risk management strategies, including climate awareness and risk communication tailored to vulnerable populations.

What researchers say

“The scary thing about climate change is that there are no clear boundaries. We are very afraid of the unknown. Now, with the knowledge we have, people are saying there is no need to panic. When a wildfire occurs, “be wary of smoke, close windows, limit outdoor activities, and don't panic. These precautions can potentially affect the entire population.” It could have benefits,” said study co-author and Gangarosa Distinguished Professor Yang Liu, Ph.D. Gangarosa Environmental Health Department in Rollins.

“Mental health is one of the most common health conditions in the United States, and our study found multiple pathways between the association between wildfires and severe anxiety disorders. “If a person is already dealing with mild or moderate mental health symptoms, then the next time they wake up and see the sky filled with smoke, they will feel even more anxious.” said Dr. Qingyang Zhu, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at the Gangarosa Environmental Health Bureau.

Why it's important:

• Rising temperatures and changing drying patterns have significantly increased the likelihood of wildfires globally over the past two decades, resulting in larger areas burned and longer fire seasons.
• The western United States is known as a fire-prone region due to frequent fire weather conditions, increased drought, and abundant fuel resources.
• Climate change is thought to be linked to a variety of mental illnesses, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders.
• Mental health disorders, including anxiety disorders, have become a growing threat to global public health over the past three decades. According to the latest Global Burden of Disease Study published in 2020, anxiety disorders are the 24th largest contributor to the global disease burden out of 369 diseases.