Produced by Imperial College London's Grantham Institute and Institute of Global Health Innovation, this briefing paper sets out the current evidence on how climate change is affecting mental health and emotional wellbeing worldwide, distinguishing direct effects (such as those following extreme weather events) from indirect impacts on the social and economic factors that support wellbeing, including food security and housing quality. The paper proposes a detailed set of recommendations for policy makers, research institutions, mental health practitioners and health systems, calling for interdisciplinary research, recognition of the mental health co-benefits of climate action, and equitable access to protective factors such as nature and energy-efficient housing.
The impact of climate change on mental health and emotional wellbeing: current evidence and implications for policy and practice
Produced by Imperial College London's Grantham Institute and Institute of Global Health Innovation, this briefing paper sets out the current evidence on how climate change is affecting mental health and emotional wellbeing worldwide, distinguishing direct effects (such as those following extreme weather events) from indirect impacts on the social and economic factors that support wellbeing, including food security and housing quality. The paper proposes a detailed set of recommendations for policy makers, research institutions, mental health practitioners and health systems, calling for interdisciplinary research, recognition of the mental health co-benefits of climate action, and equitable access to protective factors such as nature and energy-efficient housing.
Emma L. Lawrance
Rhiannon Thompson
Gianluca Fontana
Neil Jennings
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