Kinkini Gupta
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The sudden dip in air quality in Delhi and NCR is not only causing people to choke but also impacting their mental health. For the past week the air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region has been fluctuating between 200 to 300 which is deemed poor to very poor. Winter season is always hazardous for people residing in this region but this year the air quality seems to have take a dip earlier than usual and this has been causing major health issues among people.
Poor air quality has been an ongoing problem in the North-Indian belt for the past ten years and despite the government coming up with various measures, it has all gone in vain as soon as the temperatures dip. This typically happens around Diwali celebrations and gets worse in November and December. We are aware of the fact that air pollution takes a huge toll on physical health ex. lung health, breathing issues, asthma patients, heart health, etc. But, did you know that poor AQI can also affect mental health and this is exactly what the residents of Delhi NCR has been going through lately.
According to the the Delhi government's report to the National Green Tribunal earlier this year, air pollution exposure worsens mental health. It can lead to a range of depressive symptoms like:
Furthermore, certain studies have also pointed out the fact that there is indeed a connection between the two. Air pollution is linked with mental well-being just like it is linked with physical well-being. This study was published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal College of Psychiatrists and research on this topic is growing.
There is emerging evidence now that PM 2.5 in the air is associated with poor health both respiratory as well as mental. Once PM gets inside the body, it causes inflammation. It can get into the brain tissue through nasal passage. We know that inflammation is associated with depression and mental health problems. Data shows in very polluted areas, there are more health problems including mental health. This could be related to both direct effects like mental health problems including anxiety and depression and there could be indirect effects like poor physical health which then leads to poor mental health.