New Global Research and Action Agenda identifies recommendations and priorities for understanding the mental health impacts of the climate crisis

Climate change is disproportionately affecting the mental health of vulnerable communities. A Global Research and Action Agenda, published today, identifies research priorities and recommendations to understand and act on the mental health impacts of the climate crisis. The priorities are connected to and informed by the lived experience of people around the world. 

Connecting Climate Minds, a Wellcome-funded project delivered through a global consortium of partners and led by the Climate Cares Centre at Imperial College London’s Institute of Global Health Innovation with the support of Imperial Projects, brought together voices of over 960 people in 90 countries to develop the agenda. The initiative was designed to be participatory and inclusive. Working with youth, Indigenous communities, small farmer and fisher peoples and people from regions around the world, the researchers witnessed the ubiquity and diversity of the mental health impacts of the climate crisis. The agenda seeks to build research evidence in areas where there is a critical need to inform decisions that can better protect people’s mental health while creating a safer climate. 

Mental health impacts of climate change 

The agenda describes how people around the world are experiencing mental health challenges caused or worsened by the climate crisis. One lived experience contributor explained that: “… floods in the Peninsula due to the tropical storms of 2020, the milpas and backyards were flooded, crops, breeding animals and many seeds and plants of importance for the food of the families were lost. Of course this caused great sadness, despair and crisis for the families, for lack of quality food.” 

To date, research and action on climate change and mental health has been disconnected. Consequently, decision-making and sharing of good practices are siloed, and research has focussed unequally on richer countries. The agenda showcases diverse experiences of living with and creating solutions to the mental health consequences of a changing climate. The work outlines how to protect mental health and enable climate action that can benefit our minds through priority research and action in this interconnected field. 

Climate change is harming both our physical and mental health Madeleine Thomson Head of Climate Impacts and Adaptation, Wellcome

Madeleine Thomson, Head of Climate Impacts and Adaptation at Wellcome, said: “Climate change is harming both our physical and mental health but until recently, we’ve known very little about the latter. By bringing together scientists and people with lived experience at the forefront of the crisis, the team have identified where the need is greatest so we know what to focus on for protecting people’s mental health in a changing climate.” 

The mental health impacts of climate change have been previously overlooked. A growing body of evidence shows that the impacts of the climate crisis on mental health include worsened outcomes among those with diagnosed mental health disorders during climate change-related disasters, increased suicide rates, and a lower level of mental health and wellbeing. People living with mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and depression, are more likely to die during a heatwave, while some communities are experiencing continuous grief and increased risk of conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder due to extreme weather events.  

Vulnerable communities have been disproportionately affected due to escalating climate hazards in certain regions, lack of access to mental health support and lack of access to the resources that could help them adapt (like living near green space in cities). These inequalities were exacerbated by the emerging field focussing research primarily on Global North countries. By foregrounding lived experiences of the mental health impacts of climate change in communities around the world, including through lived experience videos and case studies, the initiative takes a step towards mitigating the impact on vulnerable communities. 

Experiences from a number of regions across the world, including Nepal, the Philippines and the Caribbean, demonstrate how extreme climate events are linked with an increased burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, stress and suicide in people of all ages.  

Connecting climate and mental health

The Climate Cares Centre, led by Dr Emma Lawrance, worked with a fantastic coalition of organisations to deliver the project, including the International Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, SustyVibes, Force of Nature, the Climate Mental Health Network and international experts representing the seven Sustainable Development Goal Regions: Jordan Health Aid Society International, The Planetary Health Alliance, University of Queensland, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, The University of the West Indies, St Luke's Medical Center, Imo University and Claretian University. The agenda aims to build research evidence in areas where there is a critical research need: 

1. Impacts of climate change on mental health, and factors that may increase risk for or be protective against these impacts.  
2. Pathways and mechanisms through which climate change impacts mental health. 
3. Mental health benefits and risks of climate action. 
4. Mental health interventions in the context of climate change. 

I hope the agenda inspires and guides those who can invest in research and action to enable its implementation, and allow this growing global field to support a safer climate for our mental health Dr Emma Lawrance Mental Health Lead, Institute of Global Health Innovation

Dr Emma Lawrance, Climate Cares Centre Lead and Mental Health Lead at the Institute of Global Health Innovation said: “It has been humbling to hear hundreds of stories of the lived reality of the climate crisis, and the consequences for mental health. It’s been thrilling to experience the power of connecting and sharing understandings across disciplines, sectors, generations, cultures and nations. I hope the agenda inspires and guides those who can invest in research and action to enable its implementation, and allow this growing global field to support a safer climate for our mental health.” 

A key impact of the research that informed the agenda, from the regional and global dialogues and contributions at Connecting Climate Minds’ global event in March, is the importance of how the research is done – not just what research is done. 

Jessica Newberry Le Vay, Climate change and mental health policy fellow at the Institute of Global Health Innovation said: “We heard strongly through Connecting Climate Minds that climate and mental health research must value and bring together many diverse forms of expertise, and not perpetuate existing harms – such as research being done with communities but not leading to tangible community benefits, or stigma around mental health.” The project provides toolkits alongside the agenda to enable researchers to do this. 

"We heard strongly through Connecting Climate Minds that climate and mental health research must value and bring together many diverse forms of expertise, and not perpetuate existing harms" - Jessica Newberry Le Vay, Climate change and mental health policy fellow

In practice, this will look like improved research infrastructure, inclusive, non-extractive approaches to research, and integration of climate and mental health policies, practices and frameworks. 

Connecting Climate Minds addressed the disconnection, uncertainty, and siloed nature of research in the climate and mental health fields. The researchers have identified five strands of transdisciplinary work that is needed to overcome the injustice and disconnection of research. 

1. Transdisciplinary approaches that combine and equally value multiple forms of expertise 
2. Inclusive, non-extractive and co-creative approaches 
3. Political and policymaking environments that enable integrated climate and mental health policies, practices and frameworks 
4. Awareness of climate change and mental health impacts among key actors (e.g. researchers, research funders, policymakers, practitioners, educators and civil society) and what actions they can take to better understand and respond to these impacts 
5. Improved research infrastructure, capacity, methods and data to support transdisciplinary, inclusive and comparable approaches to climate change and mental health research.  

Professor Sir David Nabarro, Co-Director, Institute of Global Health Innovation said: “Through the Wellcome-supported Connecting Climate Minds programme, at least 960 scientists, practitioners and persons with lived experience - from all over the world - spent a year exploring how people’s mental health is challenged by the climate crisis.  Coming generations will benefit greatly as their conclusions inspire meaningful action.” 

The full Agenda is available at hub.connectingclimateminds.org

Lawrance & Newberry Le Vay et al., A Global Agenda for Research and Action in Climate Change and Mental Health. Connecting Climate Minds. 2024.