A new study conducted in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda has found a critical need to address the mental health consequences of climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The study, conducted by the African Coalition of Communities Responsive to Climate Change (ACCRCC), found that extreme weather events are intensifying mental health challenges such as eco-anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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The study, which was supported by Climate Action Africa (CAA) under the South-South Exchange initiative, involved 237 participants between May and October 2024.
Key findings include that extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and displacement, have significant and disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations, including Indigenous groups, women, and persons with disabilities.
Mental health support needs to be integrated into climate policies to foster climate resilience and build thriving communities.
Community-specific interventions are crucial to address the unique challenges faced by different groups.
The study’s recommendations call for a regional framework to integrate mental health into climate action in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This framework should include targeted mental health solutions to address the psychological impacts of climate disasters and gender-equitable and socially inclusive strategies to address environmental stressors.
The report emphasizes that investing in mental health infrastructure is essential for building climate resilience. Governments, donors, and practitioners are urged to act on these findings and integrate mental health into the climate resilience agenda.
