Study links seasonal allergens to mental health challenges
We all know what leads to poor mental health: poor diet, inactivity, lack of sleep, stress and loneliness. But did you know seasonal allergens such as pollen can also contribute to poor mental health?
Associate Professor Shooshan Danagoulian, in collaboration with her student Owen Fleming and Dr. Joelle Abramowitz of the University of Michigan, has studied the relationship between pollen levels, suicides and mental health visits to the emergency room in 34 metropolitan areas in the United States. The researchers found that moderately high pollen levels result in an increase of 2 to 3% in the number of suicides and an increase of 3.5% in the number of mental health emergency room visits.
Pollen levels are seasonal and not affected by human behavior, so there is no chance of mental health causing a rise in pollen levels, nor of a third factor causing both. These findings establish that high pollen levels lead to an increase in mental health emergencies.
It is certainly not the case that pollen is a main cause of mental health emergencies, but what these data suggest is that people who are already struggling are more likely to have an emergency when the stress of high pollen levels is added (marginal effect).
This finding has some important policy implications. Climate change will likely lead to an increase in both the intensity and frequency of high pollen level days, increasing stress on mental health. This suggests the need for better data collection on pollen levels and strategies to encourage people to manage their reactions to high pollen levels, such as the use of antihistamines or staying indoors when pollen levels are high.
Time to stock up on Claritin!