Publications
An Introduction to Efforts Aiming to Address the Mental Health Effects of Climate Change
Climate change invokes a wide range of existential, emotional, and psychological responses. These responses can severely reduce an individual’s quality of life. As such, it is important to support individuals who experience adverse effects as they learn about and grapple with the realities of climate change. This brief aims to provide a short introduction to intervention to interventions targeting the adverse mental health effects of climate change. We have divided this report into two sections. Section 1 introduces broad categories of mental health interventions specifically tailored to address the effects of climate change on mental health. Section 2 introduces key principles and concepts that underlie these interventions.
Repairing the Social Contract: Undertaking the Co-Design of Climate Distress Services for Young People in British Columbia
This study explored the emotional and psychological reactions of young individuals (ages 16-24) to climate change based on online focus group interviews with 11 participants (two interviews per person). Aiming to comprehend their distress and collaboratively design solutions, the research emphasized community-academic partnerships and youth leadership. In summary, our findings underscore the urgent need for robust community-academic partnerships to address climate-induced distress amongst the youth. The onus lies not only on governmental bodies, but also on educational and community-based organizations to act decisively and provide the necessary support mechanisms for the younger generation grappling with the ramifications of climate change.
Exploring the Relationship between Subjective Social Disconnectedness and Climate Change Anxiety
Climate change is contributing to mental health challenges globally and there is a need to identify pathways that can mitigate these effects. Relational factors that are linked with higher resilience and improved mental health are understudied in relation to climate distress. We examine the association between social (dis)connection and climate change anxiety among a sample of individuals, aged 16+, living in British Columbia, Canada. Cross-sectional online surveys administered between May and December 2021 were conducted with a sample of participants recruited via online social media advertisements. We conducted multivariable linear regression analyses to assess associations between social disconnection and climate change anxiety. Mediation analyses were also conducted to assess if generalized psychological distress mediated the pathways of interest. Findings revealed that (a) subjective social disconnection was associated with greater climate change anxiety, and (b) this effect was mediated by higher levels of generalized psychological distress. Dominance analyses revealed social disconnection and political orientation as key contributors to climate change anxiety. We conclude that building resilience through supportive social networks and communities may mitigate the harmful effects of climate change anxiety. Interventions may benefit from group-based and community-building modalities. Further research on such interventions is needed.
The concerned steward effect: Exploring the relationship between climate anxiety, psychological distress, and self-reported climate related behavioural engagement
Previous research has demonstrated that heightened levels of climate change anxiety are correlated with psychological distress. Some have argued that engagement in pro-environmental behaviour might be associated with lower levels of climate anxiety and psychological distress. As such, this study aimed to explore the association between pro-environmental behavioural engagement, climate change anxiety, and generalized psychological distress. Participants living in British Columbia, Canada aged 16+ completed a serial cross-sectional online survey. We examined inter-relationships between self-reported Climate-related Behavioural Engagement (BE) scores, Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS) scores, and Kessler Psychological Distress (K6) scores using scatterplots, Spearman Rank Correlation and multivariable linear regression. Among 1553 participants, higher CCAS scores and higher BE scores were both associated with greater psychological distress. An interaction term between these variables indicated that as CCAS scores increased, the effect of self-reported behavioural engagement on psychological distress was attenuated. Findings suggest that self-reported behavioural engagement and climate anxiety are correlated, a phenomenon we refer to as the concerned steward effect. However, the association becomes attenuated among those with high levels of distress, perhaps driven by a diminishing return of behavioural engagement or difficulties of behavioural engagement among those with high distress.
Community Satisfaction and Risk Perception of Local Devastation Due to Climate Change
Community satisfaction and risk perception are important in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and developing comprehensive and equitable climate policy. This study focused on understanding the relationship between the risk perception of future local devastation due to climate change and community satisfaction in British Columbia, Canada. The results revealed that the perception of an increased risk of future local devastation due to climate change was negatively associated with neighborhood satisfaction. However, no statistical relationship was found between housing satisfaction and risk perception. Furthermore, individuals who had experienced displacement from natural disasters, identified as women, belonged to Indigenous communities, or held liberal political views were more likely to perceive higher climate risks. In contrast, a higher income level (above $90,000) and increased population density had the opposite effect on such risk perception. These findings emphasize the importance of community satisfaction in shaping the perceived risk of climate disasters and informing the development of climate mitigation and adaptation policies. A cohesive community can help individuals cope with climate disasters mentally, physically, and financially. It is essential for equitable policy-making processes to address disparities in race, age, gender, income, and political orientation when considering the impact of climate change and policy readiness. Building climate-resilient communities involves strengthening social connections, integrating community resources, and supporting vulnerable populations.
Two-eyed perspectives on mental health interventions for climate change distress: An integrative scoping review
Climate change poses significant challenges to life. These challenges include the psychological and emotional responses to environmental change. Two-eyed seeing allows us to examine the mental health effects of climate change from an Indigenous perspective while recognizing the value and strengths of both Western and Indigenous knowledge systems. To date, there has not been a literature review synthesizing Western and Indigenous perspectives on climate distress and as such a Two-eyed seeing perspective has not emerged.
Pursuing Intergenerational Climate Justice Work: A consultation with members of the Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance
This In March 2023, we conducted a consultation with members of the Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance using an online survey and targeted key informant interviews. These consultations explored participant’s current intergenerational climate justice work, the perceived values of this work, the needs of members to pursue this work and member’s recommendations for the MHCCA to pursue intergenerational climate justice work.
The 2021 Western North American heat dome increased climate change anxiety among British Columbians: Results from a natural experiment
This study explored the impacts of the 2021 Western North American Heat Dome on levels of cliamte anxiety among British Columbians. Most participants indicated that they were much (40.1%) or somewhat (18.4%) more worried about climate change due to the heat dome. Mean CCAS scores increased from 1.66 (standard deviation [SD]= 0.80) to 1.87 (SD = 0.87) pre- and post- heat dome, respectively. In multivariable modeling, this effect was significant even after controlling for potential confounders (Estimate = 0.057, standard error = 0.148, p < 0.001).
The Mental Health and Climate Change Research Framework
In 2021, we developed a research framework based on consultations with more than 120 stakeholders from across Canada.
The 2021 Mental Health and Climate Change Summit Report
In February 2021, our team hosted an exciting two-day virtual event attended by more than 120 climate change and mental health experts, stakeholders, and community members. The meeting aimed to raise awareness and facilitate community engagement on the topic of climate change and mental health and specifically discuss the pathways by which mental health and wellness and climate change influence each other.