Research and resources, shaped by those doing the work

Background: Climate change is increasingly recognized as a driver of mental health disorders, exacerbating conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post‑traumatic stress. However, climate policies rarely address mental health considerations.Objective: This study investigates the extent to which mental health is incorporated into national climate adaptation policies, specifically Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), from countries classified as high or very high risk according to the INFORM index.Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review and policy analysis of NDCs from 38 high‑risk countries. A keyword‑based approach was used to assess the frequency and depth of mental health references in climate policies.

This article, published in French, examines the effects of positive discourse on anxieties related to climate change ('Des effets des discours positifs sur les angoisses liees au changement climatique').

AbstractClimate change is one of the greatest threats to health that societies face and can adversely affect mental health. Given the current lack of a European consensus paper on the interplay between climate change and mental health, we signal a need for a pan-European position paper about this topic, written by stakeholders working in mental health care.On behalf of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA), we give recommendations to make mental health care, research, and education more sustainable based on a narrative review of the literature.

‘Discourses of climate delay’ pervade current debates on climate action. These discourses accept the existence of climate change, but justify inaction or inadequate efforts. In contemporary discussions on what actions should be taken, by whom and how fast, proponents of climate delay would argue for minimal action or action taken by others. They focus attention on the negative social effects of climate policies and raise doubt that mitigation is possible. Here, we outline the common features of climate delay discourses and provide a guide to identifying them.

ABSTRACT (Open Access via Helsinki repository/PhilArchive): This essay examines the connection between fear and the psychopathologies it can bring, looking in particular at the fears that individuals experience in the face of the climate crisis and environmental degradation more generally. We know that fear can be a source of good and ill — fears of climate-change-driven heat waves, for instance, can spur both activism and denial. But we don't yet have a very good understanding of why eco-fears shape our thoughts and actions in the ways that they do, or why some experiences of eco-fear can lead to depression, PTSD, and other psychopathologies. The essay focuses on the role that feelings of agency — our general feeling that we have enough ability to address the threats and challenges we face — play in understanding and addressing these pathologies.

A toolkit for young people coping with eco-distress, produced by Klara Wrusch during her CPA internship. Covers the range of eco-emotions, the importance of supportive groups, three dimensions of coping (action, distancing and grieving), and reflective and journalling activities for teenagers and young adults.