Climate disasters and mental health: directions for research, practice, and policy

Mental Health Policy Development in the States: The Piecemeal Nature of Transformational Change

Tracking populations through increasingly frequent climate disasters and understanding what contributes to mental health risks is crucial for adaption and planning for a climate changed world. We aimed to examine mental health trajectories after consecutive climate-related disasters and assess differences in mental health outcomes by temporal proximity to previous disasters and risk profiles. Using longitudinal population-based Australian data from 2009 to 2019, people who experienced home damage from at least one disaster (flood, bushfire, or cyclone) were included in the exposure population and tracked from pre-disaster to post-disaster years after each exposure. Cumulative mental health effects of each sequential exposure were estimated through various mental health measures using a panel event study design with linear models in comparison to unexposed matched controls, pre-disaster baselines, and across stratified risk groups. The main mental health outcome was measured with the 5-item mental health inventory (MHI-5). Mental health effects became more severe with successive disasters. MHI-5 scores declined by 1·61 (95% CI -2·69 to -0·52) and 3·37 (-6·45 to -0·29) during the first and repeat disaster exposures, respectively, compared with the year preceding the first disaster. Recovery to a pre-disaster baseline was more delayed with repeat disaster exposures. There were greater declines in mental health when disasters were closer to the previous exposure (1-2 years apart) than further away (3 or more years). Risk factors that shape mental health trajectories either remained consistent across multiple exposures (social support as protective and long-term health conditions as risks) or became more salient during subsequent exposures (lower household income and rural areas more vulnerable to the mental health effects of repeat disasters). Additional disaster exposures were associated with greater declines in mental health and shifts in some risk factors. Multiple disaster exposures must be urgently considered in public health, welfare, and disaster services. Australian Research Council.

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Mental health and well-being are foundational to both individual and societal health and overall development. No society can truly prosper without them, as mental health is central to all areas of life and essential for communities to thrive. The unprecedented convergence of multiple global crises and shocks, including climate change, conflict and epidemics/pandemics, is having profound and direct effects on mental health and well-being worldwide, while also exacerbating and compounding social and structural determinants that undermine mental health and well-being1-3. Because mental health is deeply interconnected with all sectors, addressing these challenges cannot be the responsibility of the health sector alone. Action across all sectors is essential – not only to improve mental health and societal well-being, but also to foster overall development, promoting social inclusion, equity, universal health care, human rights, and sustainable economic progress. Yet, in most countries, policies, strategies and plans across government sectors – including but not limited to health – do not adequately reflect or address the determinants of mental health and well-being. To support governments in this effort, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a new Collection of resources titled “Mental health and well-being across government sectors”, a practical package designed to help countries embed mental health and well-being into policies across all government sectors. The overarching Guidance in the Collection supports governments to identify how sector mandates, policies and plans influence mental health, and provides practical steps to embed mental health and well-being into the development, implementation and evaluation of sectoral strategies. It emphasizes the role of structural and social determinants in shaping mental health and provides concrete actions through which sectors can contribute to advancing mental health and well-being. The Guidance highlights the close and mutually reinforcing links between mental health and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showing that mental health intersects with nearly all of the Goals5. Promoting mental health supports progress on education, employment, justice, equality, climate action, and peace-building, among other areas. At the same time, protecting mental health reinforces the realization of international human rights commitments, including the right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. Given these interconnections, a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is essential. This requires integrating mental health considerations into policies and investments across all government sectors, from national to municipal levels. Key sectors include: culture, arts and sport; defence and veterans; education; employment; environment, conservation and climate protection; health; interior; justice; social protection; and urban and rural development. The Guidance begins by outlining the rationale for cross-sectoral action, the development imperatives tied to the SDGs, and the core principles that must underpin any whole-of-government approach. These include a human rights-based lens, life-course perspective, attention to structural and social determinants, meaningful participation of people with lived experience, elimination of stigma and discrimination, and use of evidence-based strategies. At the core of this overarching Guidance are two key components. First, it presents a set of government-led cross-sectoral policy directives and strategic actions, focused on whole-of-government leadership, political prioritization, accountability and financing. These are designed to support national leadership in advancing mental health and well-being across all sectors and areas of public administration. Second, it offers detailed, sector-specific guidance for the key government sectors noted above. Each sectoral chapter includes an overview and a menu of policy directives and associated strategic actions, along with illustrative indicators to guide adaptation, implementation and monitoring. The Guidance reaffirms that integrating mental health into sectoral policies and plans requires strong political will, inclusive stakeholder engagement, adequate financial resources, and clear accountability mechanisms. It emphasizes that many relevant actions already fall within the core mandates of government sectors and can be enhanced through deliberate alignment with mental health objectives. This WHO Guidance provides a practical and flexible roadmap for embedding mental health and well-being into all areas of public policy. It helps governments identify shared priorities, coordinate action, and ensure that mental health is protected and promoted as a public good. Importantly, this new Collection builds on earlier WHO work. It should be used in conjunction with the Guidance on mental health policy and strategic action plans6, 7, launched in March 2025. While that document focused specifically on strengthening leadership, governance, service delivery, and workforce capacity within the mental health sector, the new Collection expands the focus to all government sectors. We urge governments and sector leaders to apply this Guidance in developing and implementing strategies that prioritize mental health and well-being across all government sectors, and to ensure that this work is grounded in human rights, social inclusion, and sustainable development.

The evidence on the impacts of climate change on mental health and wellbeing is growing rapidly. The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of existing mental health and psychosocial interventions aimed at addressing the mental health and psychosocial impacts of climate change. A scoping review methodology was followed. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to May 2022. Comprehensive gray literature search, including expert consultation, was conducted to identify interventions for which peer-reviewed academic literature may not yet be available. Data on intervention type, setting, climate stressor, mental health outcome, evaluation, and any other available details were extracted, and results were summarized narratively. Academic literature search identified 16 records and gray literature search identified a further 24 records. Altogether, 37 unique interventions or packages of interventions were identified. The interventions act at the levels of microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem through diverse mechanisms. While most interventions have not been formally evaluated, promising preliminary results support interventions in low- and middle-income-country settings disproportionately affected by climate disasters. Interventions from multidisciplinary fields are emerging to reduce psychological distress and enhance mental health and wellbeing in the context of climate change. This scoping review details existing evidence on the interventions and summarizes intervention gaps and lessons learned to inform continued intervention development and scale-up interventions.

There are over 82.4 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, about a quarter of whom are resettling as refugees. In the wake of the global refugee crisis spurred by conflict, religious and political persecution, human rights violations, and climate disasters, a mental health has crisis followed. Not only does trauma experienced in home countries and as part of forced migration affect mental health, so too do post-migration traumatic events, discrimination, lack of access to quality and affordable healthcare and housing, and acculturation. To address mental health concerns in refugees and displaced populations, collective action is needed not only from health care providers but also from mental health researchers, funders, journals, resettlement agencies, government entities, and humanitarian organizations. The present review highlights the work of numerous scholars and organizations with the goal of understanding the mental health concerns of forcibly displaced persons within and across ecological systems. The present review seeks to bring attention to the experiences of forcibly displaced persons, summarize the growing body of research understanding the acute and chronic effects of forced displacement and possible interventions, and give a call to action for all members of the global community at every level to engage in joint efforts to improve mental health in refugees and displaced persons. Notably, there is a need for more interventions at the familial and community level that serve not only as treatment but also as prevention. Smartphone-based interventions, mind-body modalities, and interventions delivered by lay and non-clinician community members hold promise. Numerous strides could be made in refugee mental health and treatment when funding agencies include these goals in their research priorities. Despite the challenges they have faced, persons who resettle as refugees are incredibly resilient and deserve to be afforded every right, opportunity, dignity, and respect.

While employees' mental health is the focus of considerable attention from researchers, the public, and policymakers, leaders' mental health has almost escaped attention. We start by considering several reasons for this, followed by discussions of the effects of leaders' mental health on their own leadership behaviors, the emotional toll of high-quality leadership, and interventions to enhance leaders' mental health. We offer 8 possible directions for future research on leaders' mental health. Finally, we discuss methodological obstacles encountered when investigating leaders' mental health, and policy dilemmas raised by leaders' mental health. (PsycINFO Database Record

Built environment features: Predictors or effect modifiers of post-disaster mental health outcomes? A systematic review.

This series of books is an endeavor to gather and present a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of mental health that are relevant to people living in South Asia.The books aim to provide in-depth guidance and practical solutions to the mental health challenges that are unique to these areas.The content covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to, climate change and its impact, prison mental health, perinatal mental health, social psychiatry, mental health and disorder among the elderly population, psychiatry education and training, suicide, SDGs and mental health, trauma, addiction, and social isolation.The books also emphasize the importance of early intervention and provide resources for seeking help.The ultimate goal of this series is to empower individuals and communities to take proactive steps toward enhancing their mental wellbeing.The proposed books will fill the existing unmet need in the region with huge populations in low and middle-income country (LMIC) settings.South Asia, home to about 2 billion people, is a region of diverse cultures, languages, and religions.It caters to about 25% of the global population.This densely populated region faces a myriad of challenges, both natural and man-made.The frequent occurrence of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides, threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions of people.War, terrorism, and political instability have caused significant disruptions to the region's sociopolitical fabric.Poverty, migration, and tropical infectious diseases remain major challenges that hinder progress towards sustainable development.Climate change exacerbates these challenges, causing widespread environmental degradation, food insecurity, and water scarcity.Despite these obstacles, South Asian people have shown remarkable resilience and strength in the face of adversity.Mental health issues in the South Asian region significantly contribute to the global burden of mental illnesses.However, the region faces plenty of challenges such as high stigma, low mental health literacy, poor budgetary allocation, high outof-pocket expense for mental health services, lack of adequate infrastructure, and limited human resources are significant barriers in mental healthcare.The majority of research on mental health issues is produced by the western countries which may not fit all in the South Asian culture, albeit evidence is needed to test.There is a paucity of research and evidence-based strategies that are region-specific.This series of books is an attempt to compile the important dimensions of mental health that will benefit the regional people.

Background: Little is known about how disaster exposure interacts with household characteristics to influence mental health in Bangladesh. This study examined associations between household and disaster-related factors and the occurrence of mental disorders during and after climatic disasters in Bangladesh between 2015 and 2020. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2021 Bangladesh Disaster-Related Statistics (BDRS), covering 125,952 households. The outcome was self-reported mental disorder during or after climatic disasters. Hierarchical Bayesian logistic regression models were used to examine associations, with adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% credible intervals (CrIs) reported. Findings: Exposure to coastal erosion, landslides, or salinity (OR = 3.32; 95% CrI: 1.17–10.23) was associated with increased risk of mental disorder. Higher risk was also found in households headed by divorced/separated individuals (OR = 3.64; 95% CrI: 1.40–8.76), labourers (OR = 1.41; 95% CrI: 1.01–1.98), and unemployed persons (OR = 3.13; 95% CrI: 1.55–6.03). Households with a chronically ill member (OR = 3.48; 95% CrI: 2.36–5.10), malnourished child (OR = 5.17; 95% CrI: 3.14–8.35), or someone with disability (OR = 3.66; 95% CrI: 2.60–5.15) were at elevated risk. Agricultural/property loss (OR = 1.08; 95% CrI: 1.02–1.14) and housing damage (OR = 1.06; 95% CrI: 1.01–1.12) were linked to post-disaster mental disorders. Interpretation: Mental health support and social protection should be integrated into climate resilience planning, especially for socioeconomically disadvantaged households.

The impact of climate change extends beyond environmental issues to include psychological and emotional concerns. Trauma intensifies with the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related incidents. Ecological trauma arises from environmental destruction, climate disasters, and the loss of nature, affecting mental health, cultural identity, and community resilience. Exploring trauma responses in novels uncovers how characters navigate fear, loss, and survival mirroring real-life emotional struggles and adaptive behaviors. This research paper investigates the relationship between trauma studies and climate fiction through a qualitative analysis of Jessie Greengrass’s novel The High House through the lens of Somatic Experiencing theory. A close reading of this novel reveals characters’ physical as well as emotional reactions to trauma during key moments of crisis. The strategies the characters use to cope are examined and compared to real-life instances of ecological trauma. Somatic Experiencing theory is rooted in the understanding of complex emotional and physiological reactions, such as fight, flight, freeze or fawn. Ecological trauma deeply impacts children, disrupting their sense of safety and stability. Climate disasters, pollution, and habitat loss can cause anxiety, helplessness grief, and displacement. These experiences shape their emotional development, influencing mental health, resilience, and connection to nature throughout their lives. The findings suggest that the embodied experiences are critical to understanding traumatization in climate fiction and contribute to the limited body of ecological trauma research, demonstrating how literature offers unique insights into diverse responses to climate change.

The authors report the latest findings from a 32-year longitudinal study of 269 back-ward patients from Vermont State Hospital. This intact cohort participated in a comprehensive rehabilitation program and was released to the community in a planned deinstitutionalization effort during the mid-1950s. At their 10-year follow-up mark, 70% of these patients remained out of the hospital but many were socially isolated and many were recidivists. Twenty to 25 years after their index release, 262 of these subjects were blindly assessed with structured and reliable protocols. One-half to two-thirds of them had achieved considerable improvement or recovery, which corroborates recent findings from Europe and elsewhere.

How Does Climate Change Impact Psychiatry and Our Patients?

Climate-related hazards are intensifying worldwide, posing escalating risks to not only agricultural productivity but also mental health. Farmers in low- and middle-income countries are particularly vulnerable, yet the psychological impacts of climate disasters on these populations remain underexplored. This study aimed to examine the associations between climate-related hazard exposure and mental health outcomes among farmers in southern Thailand, a region heavily affected by climate disasters, including floods, droughts, and storms. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 346 farmers in four districts of Chumphon and Surat Thani Provinces, classified as high- or low-climate hazard exposure areas, via five-year disaster records. Data on sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics, climate experiences, and coping strategies were collected via structured questionnaires. Mental health outcomes were assessed via the validated Thai version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21). Multivariable logistic regression was applied to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) to assess the associations between climate hazard exposure and adverse mental health outcomes. Depression was significantly more prevalent among farmers in high-exposure areas (49.7%) than among those in low-exposure areas (36.0%; p = 0.010). Increased flooding frequency in the previous years was strongly associated with depression (aOR = 6.10; 95% CI: 2.26–16.47), anxiety (aOR = 3.33; 95% CI: 1.18–9.38), and stress (aOR = 9.81; 95% CI: 3.74–25.74). Conversely, farmers in low-exposure areas reported significantly higher engagement in institutional supports (p < 0.001), including community resource management (20.5% vs. 2.2%), financial compensation (19.3% vs. 2.2%), and adoption of drought-resistant seeds (25.5% vs. 3.2%) whereas farmers in high-exposure areas largely relied on self-directed coping. Climate-related hazards are significantly associated with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and stress among farmers. These findings underscore the importance of integrating mental health interventions into national climate adaptation frameworks, with a focus on early psychological screening, financial risk protection, and targeted psychosocial support for agricultural communities repeatedly affected by floods, droughts, and storms.

India’s rapid urbanization, population growth, and reliance on climate-sensitive sectors make it highly vulnerable to the mental health impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events and environmental degradation disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, yet mental health consequences remain under-addressed in policies and interventions. This narrative review examines the effects of climate change on mental health in India, highlighting risks for vulnerable groups and underscoring the need for climate-sensitive mental health policies and interventions. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Searches covered the period 2000–2024, and included articles reported in English; we included empirical studies, reviews, case reports and government documents focused on Indian populations and excluded non-India studies and papers without mental-health outcomes. Study quality was appraised using standard checklists, and data were synthesized thematically to identify population-specific vulnerabilities and psychosocial outcomes. Climate change exacerbates anxiety, depression, PTSD, and stress among children, women, the older adults, and rural and urban communities. Mental health must be integrated into India’s climate adaptation and disaster management strategies. Strengthening community-based interventions, awareness programs, and mental health infrastructure will enhance resilience against climate-induced psychological distress. The review applies an eco-social framework to conceptualize pathways linking climate stressors, displacement, and socio-economic disruption to mental health outcomes and identifies the need for longitudinal, culturally validated, and implementation-oriented research.