Weather Catastrophes and Depression.

In 2012, the World Wildlife Federation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released a report that studied the effects of powerful weather events on mental health. According to the report “When you have an environmental insult, the burden of mental health disease is far greater than the physical” (Live Science, February 3, 2014). The report also predicts “a steep rise in mental and social disorders resulting from climate change-related events in the coming years, including depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, suicide and widespread outbreaks of violence… the scientific data show that what lies ahead will be bigger, more frequent, and more extreme than we have ever known… prompting potentially dire mental-health impacts” (ibid.).

Jesus Christ warned that at the end of the age, there will be great earthquakes (Matthew 24:7), the seas and waves will roar (Luke 21:25), and “sorrow of heart” or depression will be widespread (Leviticus 26:16). As severe weather events increase, we may also see more depression related to these catastrophes.

For a prophetic perspective on weather-related events, read our booklet “Who Controls the Weather?”