Addressing mental and emotional health impacts of climate change

It is important to find evidence-based solutions for the mental and emotional health impacts of climate change and incorporate them into policies, plans, and implementation

Climate change has become a lived reality for countries and communities around the world. As climate impacts reshape ecosystems, economies, and societies, discussions and interventions often focus on the direct physical impacts, such as those from extreme weather events, temperature increase, or sea level rise. However, the mental, emotional, and psychosocial dimensions of climate change should not go unrecognised or unaddressed. To avoid these silent forms of non-economic loss and damage, it is important to find evidence-based solutions and incorporate them into policies, plans, and the implementation of climate action.

Ground realities

Climate change can cause or exacerbate mental health challenges in direct or indirect ways. Sri Lanka is vulnerable to a range of climate impacts that include extreme weather events—such as cyclones, floods, or droughts—as well as medium- to long-term consequences including crop failures, loss of livelihoods, or ecosystem degradation. Furthermore, climate-related impacts such as migration or disaster displacement can themselves cause psychological trauma, anxiety, fractured social networks, feelings of helplessness, grief, or fear.

Emerging concepts like solastalgia—distress from environmental degradation—and eco-anxiety—the fear of ecological collapse—are increasingly documented, particularly among youth and frontline communities. Globally, studies show that many disaster survivors develop PTSD, and heatwaves can correlate with spikes in suicide rates or conflict. Substance abuse or stress-related physical health problems, such as sleep disorders or weakened immune systems, can further heighten vulnerabilities or contribute to the challenges of those who are already affected.

Existing healthcare systems are often not prepared to shoulder these additional burdens and lack the resources, personnel, and capacities to identify and address the mental and emotional health impacts of climate change. However, the rising prevalence of such impacts and the long-lasting effects on individuals and communities underscore the urgent need to reframe mental health as a core component of climate change adaptation.

Policy dimensions

While non-economic loss and damage increasingly features in global discussions, there are still large gaps when it comes to understanding and addressing it in effective, equitable, and inclusive ways. Generally, non-economic losses can affect the environment, society, or individuals, with health impacts—as well as loss of life and human mobility—falling into the latter category. Climate action should aim to avoid these losses where possible and respond to them where they have already occurred or could not be avoided.

Effective responses require multi-tiered strategies that include preventative measures, an enabling environment, sufficient funding and resources, human and institutional capacities, and community-based interventions. For example, this could include psychosocial support, the training of relevant healthcare professionals, broad awareness creation, or the inclusion of people with mental health conditions and disabilities in contingency and evacuation planning for climate-related events.

Sri Lanka’s Nationally Determined Contributions do not directly mention mental or emotional health. However, the health sector is highlighted as a key adaptation sector, and the document states that “any increase in global average temperature is projected to affect human health with negative consequences.” Similarly, the country’s National Adaptation Plan also places health as a priority sector and acknowledges that the impacts of climate change “appear to have significant repercussions on health of the citizens,” including socioeconomic outcomes such as “psychological trauma and stress.” Adaptation commitments in the health sector include strengthening research capacities on health impacts of climate change and launching awareness programs on climate and health risks for healthcare workers as well as the public.

The 2023 National Policy on Climate Change also broadly commits to “ensure protection of health and environment from climate hazards” and “take appropriate actions to safeguard health,” including through enhanced access to information and information-sharing between health agencies and other relevant sectors.

Looking ahead

Resource constraints, lack of awareness, data gaps, and underlying vulnerabilities and inequities make it challenging to effectively address mental and emotional health impacts. Healthcare systems are often already overburdened and underfunded, with the physical health impacts of climate change—such as heat stress, water- and vector-borne diseases, or malnutrition—further straining existing capacities.

However, it is vital to not lose sight of this dimension of climate change and find ways to support those who are affected by it. In addition to the inclusion in policies and plans, this could also entail community-centric solutions, peer support networks, or innovative approaches such as nature-based therapy, which combine ecosystem recovery with communal healing. Leveraging technology and finance could further help to make psychosocial support more effective and reach communities through digital services, teletherapy, or direct access to finance for mental health at the community level.

The mental and emotional health impacts of climate change are not inevitable or insurmountable. Countries such as Sri Lanka could pioneer holistic strategies that address climate change and restore landscapes as well as mental health and wellbeing. By integrating mental health into climate action, mobilising climate finance, and empowering communities, this provides opportunities for innovation and inclusive approaches.

(The writer works as Director: Research & Knowledge Management at SLYCAN Trust, a non-profit think tank. His work focuses on climate change, adaptation, resilience, ecosystem conservation, just transition, human mobility, and a range of related issues. He holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Cologne, Germany and is a regular contributor to several international and local media outlets.)