Environment

Environment

Housing & homelessness

We all know how secure, stable and safe housing is fundamental for getting sleep, rest, shelter, sanitation and basic human needs met to maintain good mental health and wellbeing. People who had experienced homelessness were more likely to report having a mental health condition or a long-term health condition, with depression, back pain or back problems, anxiety and asthma as the most common long-term conditions. Once you have housing though, the battle may not be over. In addition to having a roof over your head, having access to amenities and services and a safe sense of community also play a vital role in fostering our mental health as we go about our daily lives and interactions. With house prices at an all-time high, interest rates and inflation rising, rental properties being lost to short-term accommodation stays, there is a housing shortage being felt for many. Mental health issues sometimes contribute to a person’s gradual demise into homelessness or the situation itself exacerbates and causes mental health issues to escalate.   

Community & neighbourhoods

Over the past decade, research has reflected that some of the happiest and most content people in life are a 20-minute stroll from all services and community incentives they need access to day-to-day, whether it’s shops, green spaces, cycle ways, medical facilities, public transport, schools or leisure/sporting centres. Coined ‘20-minute neighbourhoods’, it’s fast becoming a growing trend in shaping where and how people want to live to increase their community and neighbourhood living satisfaction. COVID-19 has sparked renewed interest in this concept. The way we design and build neighbourhoods and communities affects residents’ social connections, sense of community and social capital. Designing facilities and spaces to encourage meeting, gathering and social interaction contributes to socially inclusive communities. If distance from core amenities is an issue in your area, it’s not only your local council’s responsibility to build a sense of community and neighbourly connection – you can take matters into your hands too! Better connection in your community and a safe, pleasant, helpful neighbourhood feel is great for our mental health.  

Climate change

The American Psychiatric Association recognises climate change poses a threat to public health, including mental health, and that those with mental health disorders are disproportionately impacted by the consequences of climate change. The mental health consequences of events linked to a changing global climate include mild stress and distress, high-risk coping behaviour such as increased alcohol use and, occasionally, mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Climate change-related impacts can also lead to job loss, force people to move, or lead to a loss of social support and community resources – all of which have mental health consequences. In addition, anticipation of extreme weather events and concern about the phenomenon of climate change can be stressful. Extreme weather events such as large storms, flooding, droughts and heat waves are likely to become more frequent or more intense with climate change, and experiencing these types of events can cause significant stress and distress for many and can contribute to more serious mental health issues. Individual actions people can take to prepare and respond to emergency and disaster events to manage feelings of anxiousness include: making and practicing household emergency plans; caring for yourself through healthy habits; building connections with family, friends, neighbours and others to create strong social networks; taking steps to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on yourself and your family; and learning resilience interventions and adopting coping practices.  

Embracing nature

Research shows a strong connection between people living close to or spending a lot of time in or near natural or green areas results in improved feelings of happiness, self-worth and overall life satisfaction. People feel better after getting out and experiencing natural habitats, be it the beach, bush, outback or alps, or even nature reserves and green park spaces closer to home. The healing power of fresh air and sun light is long proven. Embracing our natural world and learning to appreciate the simpler elements of nature can reduce mental distress and create a sense of calm, clear our head and allow time for reflection, relaxation and restoration.   

Living remote and natural disasters  

People living in remote, regional or rural areas tend to be more prone to mental health challenges based on distance to services and each other, increased exposure to extreme weather events and natural disasters, and barriers to financial security and employment options. People living in regional WA experience consistently poorer mental health outcomes than those living in the Perth metropolitan area and difficulties in accessing mental health services and support. Particular adversities reported in these areas include experiences of isolation, loneliness and lack of opportunities for activity or connection, distance from services and supports, issues with alcohol and other drugs, stigma around mental health and unwillingness to get care, and the need for greater financial stability and employment options to keep people feeling optimistic about the future. The impacts of natural disasters, a changing climate and the effects of market dynamics on agriculture and other rural/regional industries are also felt more acutely in some communities. Mounting evidence also demonstrates people living in rural communities experience difficulty addressing these underlying issues due to the scarcity of jobs, housing and services, which amplifies their financial stress and impacts their mental wellbeing. It is estimated around a third of people located in regional settings are in either high or very high distress, which is well above general Australian averages.  

COVID and other environmental threats

Living through a viral pandemic can be a stressful experience for many, coupled with grief and loss for others too. Many people, understandably feel concerned about COVID-19, and although the focus has been largely on the physical and hygienic protections to take during the pandemic, we also need to look after our mental health and wellbeing. If you have been feeling anxious or worried as the threat of COVID spreading, or concerns about other health ailments, then try to keep things in perspective, find daily self-care tips to help with relaxation and focus, and take the practical and preventative cautions you need to in order to limit your risk.  

World issues, conflicts & politics at large

We live in an age where we are more virtually connected than ever before – information from all around the world is delivered to us live in real time straight to the devices in our hands. Jump on Twitter or TikTok and you can see updates of what's happening on the ground in other countries far away within seconds. This means we are exposed to more stimuli than ever before. Absorbing images and information about war, starvation, famine, suppressed human rights, trafficking, extreme violence and civil unrest across the globe (or even localised political disputes and issues) can be good if it creates increased awareness leading to action, help and reform but for many of us – especially those empathetic or sensitive by nature – it can leave us feeling rather defeated, helpless and overly emotional. Know when to have a rest from our devices and switch off from the bad news. If an overload of depressing online content is leaving you feeling overwhelmed, helpless and effecting your mental health and daily functioning, it might be time to implement some strategies about how and when you tune into what's happening at large. 

Sense of place

Where you were born and raised holds a special place in your identity and sense of place for a lifetime. People often describe going back to (either physically or just reminiscing) where they grew up and spent their childhoods, as a nostalgic experience, a place of healing, visiting and understanding their roots. A sense of place is deeply instilled in the way we experience and view our world and relationships with others. A good sense of place fosters positive emotional attachment and involvement, and encourages social interaction. This builds social networks, a sense of community and involvement with one’s neighbours and community, which protects both physical and mental health.