CLIMATE CHANGE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON: A NARRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW FOCUSING ON VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/arev8n6-067Keywords:
Climate Change, Mental Health, Amazon, Indigenous Peoples, Public HealthAbstract
Climate change represents a growing threat to public health, with direct and indirect effects on mental health. In the Brazilian Amazon, events such as wildfires, extreme droughts, floods, territorial loss, and environmental degradation intensify historical vulnerabilities, particularly among Indigenous peoples, riverine populations, and communities facing greater socio-environmental exposure. This article aims to analyze, through a narrative literature review, the available evidence regarding the relationship between climate change and psychological distress in the Brazilian Amazon. The literature indicates an association between extreme climate events and increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, ecological distress, and suicidal behavior, although significant methodological gaps remain, particularly concerning longitudinal studies and culturally adapted assessment instruments. It is concluded that the climate crisis should also be understood as an environmental determinant of mental health, requiring the strengthening of Psychosocial Care Networks, climate and mental health surveillance systems, and culturally sensitive public policies for the Amazon region.
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