A report published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) demonstrates the impact climate change is already having on the mental health of the UK population.
The effects of extreme weather such as flooding and heat are the biggest climate-related issues affecting mental health in the UK today, particularly impacting vulnerable populations who find it increasingly difficult to access transport and healthcare services in extreme conditions.
An increasing awareness of these longer-term impacts is also leading to increased anxiety about the future, particularly among children and young people. In the absence of appropriate interventions and adaptations, these impacts are likely to grow as the climate warms.
The report outlines that mental health impacts are not felt equally – farming, rural communities, those with livelihoods connected to the land and those with pre-existing health issues are at heightened risk.
There are steps that can be taken to reduce the burden placed on mental health and well-being from climate change, including implementing preparedness measures such as high-quality early warning systems and providing targeted mental health support for communities affected by adverse weather events.
Professor Lea Berrang Ford, Head of the UKHSA Centre for Climate and Health Security (CCHS), said:
Climate change is already impacting mental health, and these risks will increase as the climate warms and extreme weather events become more frequent and severe.
Climate warming will exacerbate mental health inequalities, with impacts greatest on rural and agricultural communities and young people.
There are practical and effective steps government and social care organisations can take to ensure adequate protection and support.
Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Officer at UKHSA, said:
Published as part of UKHSA’s commitment to the UK Government’s National Adaptation Programme, this publication is an important step forward and builds on the evidence base set in out in the Health Effects of Climate Change report.
Crucially this report highlights there is much we can do to minimise the adverse impacts from climate change on mental health and we hope that it will help galvanise activity and lead to coordinated action in this area.
This report is part of UKHSA’s ongoing commitment to investigate the impact of climate change on health. One of the main findings of this report is that these impacts are not evenly distributed, with certain groups being disproportionately affected.
Farming communities in the UK already experience high rates of mental health challenges, with only 55% of farmers feeling positive about their mental health. Climate change will exacerbate this burden.
For younger generations, the impacts can be anticipatory – they suffer anxiety about the effects that climate change will have in their lifetime, which is coupled with a perceived lack of ability to carry out actions to make a difference.
In a global survey published by the Lancet Planetary Health, findings from the UK showed that out of 1,000 children, 50% reported feeling extremely worried about climate change, with some respondents across all 10 countries surveyed also saying it impacted their daily lives and made them hesitant about having children due to concerns over their future quality of life.
These mental health and wellbeing impacts need to be considered alongside existing service pressures and other predicted changes to health service demand associated with an ageing population.
Alongside demonstrating the impacts climate change could have, the report is clear that there are steps that can be taken to counter these affects. Targeted interventions for specific groups can reduce climate-related distress, while mitigation or adaptation actions can have positive mental health co-benefits.
Many interventions targeted at supporting people following extreme weather events focus on impacts immediately following the event, but this report highlights the importance of ongoing support to address mental health impacts that persist beyond the immediate crisis.
Interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or digital interventions such as mobile mindfulness apps or text-based supportive messaging associated with both climate-related weather hazards and general awareness of climate change significantly reduced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and stress. In rural communities affected by drought, wildfires, floods and hurricanes, individual and group-based psychological and clinical interventions were also associated with a significant reduction in these symptoms.
Interventions designed to adapt to or mitigate the impacts of climate change, including preparedness measures such as advanced warning systems, flood defences and timely dissemination of information, reduce the risk of mental health difficulties.
There are also longer-term measures that can provide co-benefits, such as urban design strategies that improve mental health through increasing physical activity, shaded areas and social connectivity.
Further research on successful interventions will help build resilience to these longer-term impacts of climate change and help maintain public health in a rapidly warming world.
