The Impact of Climate Change on Public Mental Health
A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Psychology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2025 | Viewed by 179
Special Issue Editors
Interests: climate change; evictions and collective action; religious extremism; migration and enculturation; gender in(equality); conflict and peacebuilding; cross-cultural research
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Climate change is not only a profound environmental crisis, but also a critical public health issue with significant implications for mental health. The uneven distribution of climate impacts and the vulnerabilities of certain populations highlight the issue of climate justice, which seeks to address the inequities that exacerbate the suffering of marginalized groups. This Special Issue, entitled "The Impact of Climate Change on Public Mental Health", aims to explore these intersections, focusing on how environmental changes affect collective psychological well-being and how these effects are mediated by social and economic inequalities.
Contributions to this Issue should explore the psychological outcomes related to climate change, including stress, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health disorders, especially as they pertain to disproportionately affected communities. Empirical research, theoretical papers, and review articles are invited to examine the direct psychological impacts of climate-related disasters—like floods, droughts, and hurricanes—and the chronic stressors associated with gradual environmental changes, such as rising temperatures and sea levels.
Moreover, this Issue will delve into discussions of resilience and adaptation strategies that support mental health in the face of climate change, with a particular focus on climate justice. Papers might consider how principles of fairness and equity can inform interventions and policies designed to mitigate mental health risks, especially for the most vulnerable groups, including indigenous peoples, low-income communities, and those with pre-existing health disparities.
By integrating perspectives from psychology, public health, environmental science, and social justice, this Special Issue seeks to illuminate the complex pathways through which climate change impacts mental health and to foster a dialog around more equitable solutions. Climate change is a global crisis with disproportionate local effects, deeply entangled with issues of justice and equity. The concept of climate justice emphasizes that the burdens of climate change are not borne equally or fairly, with marginalized and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups often facing the greatest risks with the least resources to cope. The Special Issue "The Impact of Climate Change on Public Mental Health" aims to critically examine how these injustices manifest in mental health outcomes and to explore strategies for addressing these disparities through a public health lens.
Dr. Gulnaz Anjum
Dr. Mudassar Aziz
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- climate change
- public mental health
- climate justice
- eco-anxiety
- environmental inequities
- psychological resilience
- mental health disparities
- vulnerable populations
- adaptive coping strategies
- policy interventions
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