Climate change drives global mental health crisis in vulnerable communities
As the climate crisis deepens, communities from South Africa to the Solomon Islands are struggling with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and trauma, with little access to mental health care.
Petro Kotzé reports for Mongabay.
In short:
- Climate change is not only destroying crops, homes, and economies but also triggering widespread mental health challenges, especially in under-resourced communities.
- Farmers in South Africa, families in Nigeria, youth in the Solomon Islands, and residents of Bhutan all report grief, anger, and psychological distress as weather patterns shift and traditional livelihoods collapse.
- Experts warn that support systems are underfunded and mental health care must be built into climate responses from the start, not added as an afterthought.
Key quote:
“We are not causing climate change, yet we are the ones heavily affected.”
— Matthew Bibao Paikea, health worker, Solomon Islands
Why this matters:
Mental health is often the hidden toll of climate change. Droughts, rising seas, and disasters don’t just destroy property or food supplies; they also wear down people’s ability to cope. The trauma is especially acute in poorer communities that depend on the land and sea for survival. In the Solomon Islands, crops are dying and diseases are rising. In Nigeria, flooding and displacement are fueling gender-based violence and depression. In South Africa, years without rain have left entire towns on edge. Women and the elderly often bear the brunt. Mental health services are scarce, especially where they’re needed most.
Related EHN coverage: Pollution’s mental toll: How air, water and climate pollution shape our mental health
