A/HRC/32/23 including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.31 Climate impacts on mental health stem from the immediate physical effects of climate change and the more gradual effects on the environment, human systems and infrastructure. 32 For example, a study on the mentalhealth effects of climate change found that prolonged drought can lead to increasing farmer suicides, along with impaired mental health and stress. 33 7. Other health impacts of climate change 22. As a threat multiplier, climate change has more impacts on health than can be addressed in the present report. It has, for example, been linked to displacement, forced migration, insecurity and violent conflict, all of which pose substantial health risks. 34 Declining biodiversity as a result of climate change also has an impact on the development of new medicines and access to medicines. Ecosystem damage has far-ranging implications for health, infrastructure, ecosystem services and traditional livelihoods. Climate change and associated natural disasters further increase burdens on Governments struggling to allocate limited resources to fulfil human rights obligations. B. Disproportionate impacts on persons and groups in vulnerable situations 23. Negative impacts of climate change are disproportionately felt by the poor, women, children, migrants, persons with disabilities, minorities, indigenous peoples and others in vulnerable situations, particularly those living in geographically vulnerable developing countries. Populations living in small island developing States, on coasts, in high mountains, in deserts, at the poles and in other delicate ecosystems are most vulnerable to climate change.35 For example, persons living in small island developing States currently suffer from climate-sensitive health problems and vulnerability to extreme weather events, which can have short and long-term health effects, including drowning, injuries, increased disease transmission and deterioration of water quantity and quality. 36 In extreme cases, rising sea levels threaten the very existence of some atoll nations the residents of which face imminent displacement and associated physical and mental health impacts. 24. The Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change affirmed that certain population groups are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of climate change due, inter alia. to existing socioeconomic inequalities, cultural norms and intrinsic psychological factors.37 The World Bank has emphasized that poor people are disproportionately affected by climate-related shocks and that climate change could result in an additional 100 million 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 8 Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, statement made during the panel discussion on climate change and the right to health on 3 March 2016. See S. Clayton, C. Manning and C. Hodge, Beyond Storms & Droughts: The Psychological Impacts of Climate Change (Washington, D.C., American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica, 2014). S.K. Padhy and others, “Mental health effects of climate change”, Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 19 (1), pp. 3-7 (2014). See statement by the Special Rapporteur on the right to health during the panel discussion; and S.M. Hsiang, M. Burke and E. Miguel, “Quantifying the influence of climate on human conflict”, Science, vol. 341, issue 6151 (13 September 2013). See WHO, “Climate change and health”. Smith and others, “Human health”. Lancet Commission, “Health and climate change”.