Climate change and mental health

When most people think of climate change, images of melting glaciers, rising sea levels, or extreme weather dominate the conversation. Yet the crisis has a profound, less visible impact: its effect on mental health and social well-being. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, floods, and other environmental stressors are increasingly linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. For vulnerable populations, these effects are magnified, intersecting with existing social, economic, and medical challenges.

Recent research in Egypt¹ highlights a particularly striking example of how climate stress affects mental health: individuals with schizophrenia experience heightened climate change anxiety, which fluctuates significantly with seasonal variations. In a prospective cohort study conducted at Assiut University, 40 individuals with schizophrenia were followed across an entire year alongside a control group of 40 healthy participants. The study found that schizophrenia patients consistently exhibited higher scores for climate-related anxiety, with summer months showing the most pronounced symptoms. Symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, social withdrawal, and general psychopathology, all worsened during hotter months.

Several factors contribute to this heightened vulnerability. People with schizophrenia often have cognitive impairments that affect their ability to plan, cope, or adapt to environmental stressors. Antipsychotic medications, essential for managing symptoms, can interfere with thermoregulation, making patients more susceptible to heat-related health issues. Additionally, medical comorbidities and seasonal patterns interact with climate stress to exacerbate both psychological and physiological challenges. During periods of extreme heat, many patients reported increased irritability, aggression, and sleep disturbances, which can further strain their social relationships and everyday functioning.

The study also revealed that climate change anxiety is not merely a fleeting emotional response; it interacts with core symptoms of schizophrenia and can influence treatment outcomes. Negative symptoms predicted higher anxiety during winter and spring, while medical comorbidities amplified worry during autumn and winter, underscoring that climate change is a pressing public health concern affecting society’s most vulnerable.

Climate change and gender-based violence

The mental health consequences of climate change extend beyond individuals with psychiatric disorders. In Uganda, researchers² observed that prolonged droughts and unpredictable weather patterns can exacerbate gender-based violence (GBV) in rural communities. Women and girls, often responsible for fetching water or collecting food, are forced to travel longer distances under dangerous conditions. This increased exposure heightens their vulnerability to sexual assault and exploitation.

The impact of climate stress is complex and multilayered. Families struggling with food insecurity may resort to marrying off daughters early, shifting the responsibility of care to the husband’s family while also receiving bride wealth. In households where men migrate for work to cope with economic pressures, women and children are left behind, often facing sexual exploitation or domestic abuse. Men, facing challenges to their traditional role as providers due to crop failures, livestock losses, or reduced income, may turn to alcohol or violence to assert control, creating further risks for women in the household.

Even well-intentioned climate adaptation programs can inadvertently increase risks. Projects aimed at improving livelihoods or managing natural resources sometimes fail to integrate gender-sensitive approaches, leaving women more exposed to violence. In Uganda, a pilot program led by the UNDP in collaboration with local civil society organizations sought to address this by combining climate resilience efforts with GBV prevention. The project included community workshops to challenge harmful gender norms, mentoring for local leaders, and referral pathways for survivors, illustrating how integrated approaches can mitigate both environmental and social risks.

While these examples come from Uganda, the link between environmental stress and violence against women is a global phenomenon. Even in high-income countries, rates of domestic abuse rise during heatwaves. A 2025 Guardian article³ highlights this trend, dubbed “mango madness” in northern Australia, where higher temperatures correlate with an upswing in violence. Studies across the US, Australia, and Asia indicate that a 10°C increase in temperature typically raises the risk of violence by 9%, with both heightened aggression from heat and increased social exposure during hot weather contributing to the trend. Large public events, such as football matches, show similar spikes in abuse, demonstrating that environmental and social stressors, whether heat, drought, or extreme weather, can amplify violence worldwide.

A human crisis

Climate change is not just an environmental or economic issue; it is a human crisis. For people with psychiatric disorders, it can worsen symptoms, trigger aggression, and increase hospitalizations. For women in vulnerable communities, it heightens the risk of violence, exploitation, and social marginalization. Heatwaves, droughts, and floods interact with social inequalities and economic hardship, producing consequences that ripple across generations.

Addressing this crisis requires more than cutting carbon emissions. Policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders must tackle the links between environmental stress, mental health, and social inequality. This includes investing in climate-sensitive mental health care, integrating gender-responsive approaches in adaptation programs, and building resilient communities that can withstand environmental changes without compromising safety or well-being. Without these strategies, the human cost of climate change will continue to rise, hitting the most vulnerable first.