Climate change has already had severe and widespread mental health impacts

AR6 states with very high confidence that climate change has already negatively impacted mental health globally, and is expected to worsen with future climate change [1]. Adverse mental health outcomes assessed in AR6 included diagnosable mental disorders as well as subclinical outcomes that disrupt or impair normal functioning through impacts on mood, thinking, or behaviour [3]. Importantly, 15 out of 17 chapters in AR6 consider mental health, presenting evidence that clearly links climate change to increased suicide, suicide ideation, generalized anxiety, depression, acute traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), strong emotional reactions (e.g. stress, anger, hopelessness, grief, anxiety), drug and alcohol use and abuse, family stress, domestic violence, and sleep problems. These mental health risks are often driven and/or exacerbated by inequity, injustice, and colonialism. Those identified at higher risk included rural populations [4]; children, youth, and elderly [3, 5–7]; women [3]; Indigenous Peoples [6, 7]; low and middle income countries [3]; as well as people with pre-existing physical and mental health conditions [7], living in highly exposed areas, reliant on climate for livelihoods (e.g. farmers) [6], or in occupations responding to climate change (e.g. first responders) [3].

Globally, complex, compound, and cascading mental health risks have emerged from weather and climate extremes (e.g. heatwaves, droughts, floods, storms, fires) [1, 3]. Illustrative examples can be found around the world. For example, in Africa, extreme heat has increased negative mental health outcomes and suicide and other weather extremes have increased anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression [8]; in Asia, storms, floods, hurricanes, and cyclones have increased PTSD and depressive disorders [9]; in Australasia, wildfires have led to mental health challenges [4]; in Europe, flooding has negatively impacted mental health outcomes [5]. In addition to events like these, drought and desertification can also impair mental health [10]. These mental health outcomes are rooted in the economic, social, infrastructure, health, and food system disruptions caused by the weather and climate extremes. Evacuation during extreme events negatively impacts mental health during the event and for months after the event due to displacement, employment loss, disruption to social networks, death of friends and family, and navigating unfamiliar labour markets [11]. For example, in 2017, Tropical Cyclone Debbie displaced 31,000 people and 6 months after the event, adverse mental health outcomes were more common among those who experienced health and social care disruptions [4]. In another example, after a flooding event, people in the UK experienced PTSD, anxiety, and depression not only due to the flooding event itself, but also from subsequent disputes with insurance and construction companies [5].

Slow-onset climate changes, including warming temperatures, sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and sea-ice decline, have increased mental health challenges. For example, higher ambient temperatures are associated with increasing suicide, anxiety, depression, acute stress, and increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits for mental health conditions in Asia, Europe, and North America [3, 5–7, 9]. Slow onset climate changes, including sea level rise, coastal erosion, loss of sea ice, wildfires, permafrost thaw, and coral reef survival, impact landscapes, cultural practices and identity, and cultural heritage sites, and can lead to feelings of ecological grief, solastalgia, and ‘reef grief’, including for Indigenous Peoples globally and those who rely on or are deeply connected to particularly places and landscapes, such as farmers, fishers, and researchers [3, 4, 6, 7, 12].

Adverse mental health outcomes can emerge, even if someone has not personally or directly experienced climate change impacts. For example, people have experienced mental health challenges from vicariously experiencing climate change by witnessing climate change impacts on the environment and people on the news, or seeing friends and family experience climate change [3, 4, 6]. Furthermore, even learning about climate change itself can affect mental health [3]. The perceived threat of climate change can also lead to climate anxiety and to anticipatory loss and grief related to climate change. For example, in the Arctic, Honduras, Tuvalu, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and other Pacific Islands, Indigenous Peoples’ fears of future cultural loss and ocean changes have led to worry, anxiety, sadness, and grief [3, 12–14].

Adaptation options are available, but planning and implementation remain inadequate

While AR6 catalogues wide-ranging and dire mental health impacts, it also assesses available response options to reduce risks. Adaptation strategies that reduce mental health risks include universal access to mental health care; mental health responses integrated into pre- and post-extreme event responses; surveillance and monitoring of mental health impacts during climate and weather extremes; place-specific mental health infrastructure and nature therapy; culturally-appropriate and climate-specific mental health resources; inclusive attention to impacts on diverse communities; and mental health training (e.g. psychological first aid training for first responders) [3, 5–7]. For example, during the 2019–20 Australian wildfires, the federal government provided free mental health counselling, extended hours for mental health services, and programs designed specifically for youth [3]. While adaptation strategies within the health sector are critical, many adaptation strategies that reduce mental health risks occur outside of the health sector. Therefore, broader integration of mental health considerations into adaptation strategies is key, including integrating mental health considerations into climate resilience planning; improving coordination between governments; and developing multi-sectoral initiatives that enhance overall social and economic wellbeing, including improvements in education, housing, safety, and social protection and support [3]. For example, temporary shelters were installed in advance of a flooding event in China, and those displaced people who accessed the shelters had significantly lower rates of anxiety, depression, and PTSD [3]. Advanced warning for flooding in the UK was associated with reduced mental health impacts [5]. In the Arctic, rainwater harvesting programs to improve water security was also found to improve mental health [3].

While climate change adaptation efforts have increased, clear gaps remain. Adaptation responses to-date have been inequitably distributed, are not projected to keep pace with climate change, and are predominately in planning stages and not widely implemented [1]. At the current rate of implementation, this adaptation gap is projected to grow [1]. For mental health adaptation in particular, there has been substantial neglect and lack of investment, especially compared to the mental health impacts already experienced [3]. Mental health adaptation efforts require improved funding, increased accountability, improved access to mental health care and programing, and coordinated planning and implementation among key actors, agencies, and governments [1].

Adaptation strategies will become less effective with greater levels of warming; therefore, to reduce mounting mental health risks, drastic emission reductions alongside bolstered adaptation actions are needed. If we are unable to limit global warming to 1.5°C, our capacity to effectively support mental health will increasingly become challenged, with fewer and fewer effective options available. There are, however, mental health co-benefits for many mitigation strategies. For example, urban and peri-urban agriculture (e.g. roof top gardens) [5, 8, 15], urban green and blue spaces [3, 5], and active urban transport (e.g. walking and bicycling) [3, 5] provide mental health co-benefits via improved food security, physical activity, improved air quality, social cohesion, and wellbeing.

A climate resilient future is possible if we act now

AR6 shows that we are not on track to achieve a climate resilient future, and that widespread mental health responses are urgently needed now. Given the mental health risks identified in AR6, alongside the inadequate scale, pace, and distribution of current adaptation efforts, climate action is undeniably and urgently needed. Ambitious emissions reductions and stronger adaptation measures that integrate and mainstream mental health considerations must be implemented now and must involve everyone. A climate resilient future is predicated on mental wellness and will therefore depend on the actions we take now: every decision we make today will take us closer to or further away from a climate resilient future [1]. In the lead up to COP27, governments have IPCC AR6 in-hand and are therefore equipped with evidence that makes it clear that mental health matters in the context of climate change. The choices made at COP27 and the choices we all make in the next decade will determine our future and our mental wellness.