Climate change impacts on mental health in the UK: Current evidence and opportunities for intervention
Author(s)
Mccall, Monica
Type
Report
Abstract
This paper summarises current evidence and opportunities for mental health interventions.
Key points:
• Climate change-related increases in temperature and extreme weather pose current and future risks to public mental health in the UK.
• Vulnerable populations face heightened mental health risks.
• Direct impacts include anxiety, stress, and trauma from floods and droughts, and increased risks of suicide and symptoms of mental health disorders from heat and air pollution.
• "Eco-emotions" stem from prolonged exposure to climate change-related issues, including grief and guilt over environmental damage and anxiety about future climate-related hazards. Without support, these experiences can worsen mental health and wellbeing.
• Integrating mental health support into climate change strategies offers an opportunity to build public resilience.
Key points:
• Climate change-related increases in temperature and extreme weather pose current and future risks to public mental health in the UK.
• Vulnerable populations face heightened mental health risks.
• Direct impacts include anxiety, stress, and trauma from floods and droughts, and increased risks of suicide and symptoms of mental health disorders from heat and air pollution.
• "Eco-emotions" stem from prolonged exposure to climate change-related issues, including grief and guilt over environmental damage and anxiety about future climate-related hazards. Without support, these experiences can worsen mental health and wellbeing.
• Integrating mental health support into climate change strategies offers an opportunity to build public resilience.
Date Issued
2025-10-31
Citation
2025
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The author, produced for the Grantham Institute, Climate Cares and the Institute of Global Health Innovation. This work is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence. This licence permits all or part of the work to be copied and shared with others, provided that the original authors and source are credited. The full licence is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
License URL