Mental health and psychosocial interventions in the context of climate change: a scoping review

Siqi Xue; Alessandro Massazza; Samia C. Akhter-Khan; Britt Wray; M. Ishrat Husain; Emma L. Lawrance

doi:10.1038/s44184-024-00054-1

journal article Open Access Mar 12, 2024

Mental health and psychosocial interventions in the context of climate change: a scoping review

Siqi Xue Alessandro Massazza

Samia C. Akhter-Khan

Britt Wray

M. Ishrat Husain Emma L. Lawrance

npj Mental Health Research Vol. 3 No. 1 · Springer Science and Business Media LLC

View at Publisher Save 10.1038/s44184-024-00054-1

Abstract

Abstract
The evidence on the impacts of climate change on mental health and wellbeing is growing rapidly. The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of existing mental health and psychosocial interventions aimed at addressing the mental health and psychosocial impacts of climate change. A scoping review methodology was followed. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to May 2022. Comprehensive gray literature search, including expert consultation, was conducted to identify interventions for which peer-reviewed academic literature may not yet be available. Data on intervention type, setting, climate stressor, mental health outcome, evaluation, and any other available details were extracted, and results were summarized narratively. Academic literature search identified 16 records and gray literature search identified a further 24 records. Altogether, 37 unique interventions or packages of interventions were identified. The interventions act at the levels of microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem through diverse mechanisms. While most interventions have not been formally evaluated, promising preliminary results support interventions in low- and middle-income-country settings disproportionately affected by climate disasters. Interventions from multidisciplinary fields are emerging to reduce psychological distress and enhance mental health and wellbeing in the context of climate change. This scoping review details existing evidence on the interventions and summarizes intervention gaps and lessons learned to inform continued intervention development and scale-up interventions.

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Details

Published: Mar 12, 2024
Vol/Issue: 3(1)
License: View

Authors

S

Siqi Xue

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States

Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Toronto Ontario Canada; Pharmacology and Toxicology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada; Krembil Brain Institute and Centre for Mental Health United Health Network Toronto Ontario Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada

E

Emma L. Lawrance

Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, UK; Mental Health Innovations, UK; Grantham Institute of Climate and the Environment, Imperial College London, UK

Cite This Article

Siqi Xue, Alessandro Massazza, Samia C. Akhter-Khan, et al. (2024). Mental health and psychosocial interventions in the context of climate change: a scoping review. npj Mental Health Research, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44184-024-00054-1

Mental health and psychosocial interventions in the context of climate change: a scoping review

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