Mental Health and Climate Change | StrongMinds
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Mental Health and Climate Change

Mental Health and Climate Change

Supporting psychological resilience in the face of climate change.
Right Flourish

Climate and environment are often overlooked triggers for depression.

Extreme weather events and natural disasters can lead to a range of stressors, including displacement, loss of resources, food and water insecurity, and uncertainty about the future.

Burdens related to climate change constitute 34% of disability-adjusted life-years in sub-Saharan Africa.

The psychological impact of natural disasters can exceed physical injuries by 40 to one.

What We Are Doing

StrongMinds provides direct mental health support to people experiencing depression resulting from environmental events and stressors, such as floods, droughts, and unpredictable growing seasons.

We are also working at the global level to highlight the importance of good mental health in fostering resilience in the face of climate disasters.

StrongMinds’ Direct Impact: Case Studies

Kiteezi Landslide

Relentless downpours battering East Africa resulted in widespread flooding and damage, triggering a landslide at Kampala’s only waste dump, Kiteezi, killing 35 people and displacing around a thousand more. We are on the ground providing mental health support to people in the affected community.

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Severe Drought

A lack of rain in Zambia has led to a prolonged drought, causing widespread crop failures and crippling the country’s infrastructure, which relies on hydroelectric power. We continue to offer mental health support to people and communities to help build resilience to climate-related issues.

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Cholera Outbreak

Heavy rains and flooding in Zambia led to contaminated water sources, causing one of the worst cholera outbreaks the country has seen in decades. We continued to provide mental health support to communities throughout the country, helping people cope with the sudden outbreak.

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Report: Our Climate & Our Mental Health – A Case Study from Kotido District, Uganda

As climate change continues to reshape environments and livelihoods, its impact on mental health becomes an increasingly urgent matter. The psychological toll of climate-induced stressors—such as displacement, loss of income, food insecurity, or water scarcity— exacerbates existing mental health conditions and leaves communities even more vulnerable to depression. In this report we address the many ways in which climate change is impacting mental health and what we are doing to help individuals and communities build resilience and adapt in the face of a changing climate.

Read the Report

How is mental health impacted by the environment?

Environmental stressors and acute weather events can disrupt lives and livelihoods, triggering or exacerbating depression symptoms.

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“Losing everything I had was a traumatic experience. But with the help of the StrongMinds support group sessions, I was able to overcome depression and find ways to rebuild my life.” – Susan, Mbale District, Uganda

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