Climate change is a significant and growing driver of mental health deterioration, operating through direct pathways such as extreme weather events and indirect mechanisms including displacement, food insecurity, and community disruption. The World Federation for Mental Health has integrated climate-related mental health into its global advocacy framework, recognizing the intersection of ecological and psychological crises as a defining challenge of the current era.
A systematic review published in Nature Climate Change (2021) by Hayes et al. documented associations between rising temperatures, drought, flooding, and a range of adverse mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and increased suicide rates. Indigenous communities, coastal populations, and agricultural workers are identified as particularly vulnerable groups requiring targeted support.
The World Federation for Mental Health WFMH draws attention to the phenomenon of “eco-anxiety” — a form of chronic fear arising from perceived threats linked to environmental collapse. While not yet classified as a formal diagnostic category, eco-anxiety has been documented in clinical settings globally and is gaining increasing recognition in public health literature.
Research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Obradovich et al., 2018) demonstrated that higher ambient temperatures correlate with worse self-reported mental health and elevated risk of emotional disturbance. These findings underscore the urgent need for climate-resilient mental health systems capable of responding to both acute and chronic ecological stressors.
The World Federation for Mental Health calls for the integration of mental health considerations into national climate adaptation plans. Multisectoral collaboration between environmental, health, and social protection sectors is essential for building community resilience and mitigating the psychosocial harm associated with climate-related disruptions. WFMH will continue to advance this agenda at the international level.