Exploring mental health and psychosocial interventions in relation to climate change: an overview study
In a groundbreaking scoping review published in the npj Mental Health Research journal, a team of researchers delves into the intersection of mental health and climate change, shedding light on the various interventions aimed at addressing the psychosocial impacts of our changing climate.
The evidence presented in the review underscores the growing recognition of climate change as a public health emergency, with profound implications for mental health and wellbeing. The impacts of climate events, such as floods, wildfires, and extreme weather phenomena, have been associated with worsened mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The review identifies a total of 37 unique interventions or packages of interventions, each acting at different levels of the ecological environment according to Bronfenbrenner's theory: microsystem (individual and immediate home environment), mesosystem (peer groups and social networks), exosystem (institutions, media, and local government), and macrosystem (policies, laws, and overarching social structures).
While most interventions have not been formally evaluated, the review highlights promising preliminary results, particularly in low- and middle-income countries disproportionately affected by climate disasters. The interventions span a wide range of mechanisms, including psychotherapy, resilience-building programs, nature-based activities, community strengthening networks, and climate activism projects.
The review calls for more robust evaluation studies, especially those involving implementation research, to better assess the effectiveness, feasibility, and scalability of mental health interventions in the context of climate change. It also emphasizes the importance of co-designing interventions with local stakeholders, ensuring accessibility, and considering the unique cultural and contextual factors that influence mental health and wellbeing outcomes.
In conclusion, the review provides a comprehensive overview of existing interventions and identifies key gaps and opportunities for continued intervention development and scale-up efforts. By bridging the gap between mental health and climate change, this research paves the way for a more holistic approach to addressing the mental health challenges posed by our changing climate.
Source:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44184-024-00054-1
The evidence presented in the review underscores the growing recognition of climate change as a public health emergency, with profound implications for mental health and wellbeing. The impacts of climate events, such as floods, wildfires, and extreme weather phenomena, have been associated with worsened mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The review identifies a total of 37 unique interventions or packages of interventions, each acting at different levels of the ecological environment according to Bronfenbrenner's theory: microsystem (individual and immediate home environment), mesosystem (peer groups and social networks), exosystem (institutions, media, and local government), and macrosystem (policies, laws, and overarching social structures).
While most interventions have not been formally evaluated, the review highlights promising preliminary results, particularly in low- and middle-income countries disproportionately affected by climate disasters. The interventions span a wide range of mechanisms, including psychotherapy, resilience-building programs, nature-based activities, community strengthening networks, and climate activism projects.
The review calls for more robust evaluation studies, especially those involving implementation research, to better assess the effectiveness, feasibility, and scalability of mental health interventions in the context of climate change. It also emphasizes the importance of co-designing interventions with local stakeholders, ensuring accessibility, and considering the unique cultural and contextual factors that influence mental health and wellbeing outcomes.
In conclusion, the review provides a comprehensive overview of existing interventions and identifies key gaps and opportunities for continued intervention development and scale-up efforts. By bridging the gap between mental health and climate change, this research paves the way for a more holistic approach to addressing the mental health challenges posed by our changing climate.
Source:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44184-024-00054-1
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