Not Only Shortness of Breath, Pollution Also Makes Mental 'Ambyar'

"Not Only Shortness of Breath, Pollution Also Makes Mental Health 'Ambyar'"

Not Only Shortness of Breath, Pollution Also Makes Mental 'Ambyar'

Dream - The Jabotabek area always becomes a 'regular customer' of relentless pollution. On July 1, 2024 at 08.00 WIB, IQAir recorded that Jakarta was ranked fourth among the most polluted cities in the world with a PM2.5 concentration of 82 μg/m3 (unhealthy category).

Many people think that the quality of this air only has an impact on physical health, especially related to breathing. It turns out that the reality is not like that.

The poor air quality not only affects physical health but also has the potential to impact mental health. Referring to a study published in PubMed Central, air pollution has an impact on reducing someone's level of happiness and increasing the level of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, a study published in the journal Environmental Pollution also revealed a correlation between an increased risk of depression and long-term exposure to PM2.5. PM 2.5 itself is the smallest and most harmful air pollution particle that cannot be filtered by the body.

"Besides causing impacts on physical health, long-term exposure to air pollutants can also lead to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, and even dementia. There are also indications that children and adolescents who are continuously exposed to air pollution during their critical stages of mental development are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health problems in the future," said Patricia Elfira Vinny, a professional psychologist, in a press release received by Dream.

Many Attack Residents in Urban Areas

According to Patricia, high risks occur to those who live in metropolitan areas like Jabodetabek. This is because residents in metropolitan cities tend to have more complex psychosocial conditions.

Banyak Menyerang Warga di Kawasan Perkotaan

"The presence of daily traffic congestion amidst poor air quality, financial problems, and work pressure, becomes a contributing factor that makes people in highly air-polluted metropolitan areas more vulnerable to mental health disorders," he said."

The ongoing air pollution condition and the lack of concrete solutions to mitigate it can have an impact on increasing the risk of public health problems. According to data from the Ministry of Health of Indonesia, it is revealed that 1 out of 10 people in Indonesia has experienced mental health disorders.

The National Bureau of Economic Research Cambridge Study reveals that air pollution increases the suicide death rate by 0.49% in daily suicide cases for every 1 g/m3 daily increase in PM2.5. It is important to know the early symptoms of mental health disorders that should be watched out for, including decreased ability to concentrate, restlessness, inability to make decisions, and sleep disturbances.

"In the long term, mental health disorders caused by poorly managed air pollution also have the potential to lead to suicide. If experiencing these symptoms, it is highly recommended to consult with a psychologist or psychiatrist. This can be done through direct consultation or online, such as the features provided by Halodoc."

"Halodoc is ready to be a healthy life companion for the community, including in facing the psychological impacts of air pollution. The community can utilize the 'Mental Health' feature in the Halodoc application to consult with our psychologists and psychiatrists through chat or video calls," said Veronica Utami, Chief Operating Officer of Halodoc."

lifestyle

Don't Underestimate Feeling Weak, It Could Be Because of These 3 Factors

Although weakness can feel like normal fatigue, it is not always accompanied by clear signs of illness.