People do not need to experience a flood, wildfire or other disaster firsthand to feel the mental health impacts of climate change. For many people, particularly young people, simply worrying about climate change can cause distress, affect sleep and disrupt everyday life.
A new report from the WHO European Centre for Environment, Climate Change and Health, “Strengthening mental health in a changing climate: insights from interventions across the WHO European Region”, highlights the often-overlooked consequences of climate change on mental health and well-being, and what countries and communities are doing to address them.
Released on 10 November 2026, as the United Nations Climate Change Conference is under way in Antalya, Türkiye, the report calls for stronger integration of mental health into climate policies, emergency preparedness and community resilience, while ensuring mental health and community services are better equipped to address the impacts of climate change.
How is climate change affecting our mental health?
From distress following floods to anxiety about the future of the planet, climate change affects mental health in multiple ways. Extreme heat can disrupt sleep and aggravate existing mental health conditions, while direct exposure to floods and wildfires can lead to anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Gradual environmental changes, livelihood loss and uncertainty about the future can also contribute to chronic stress.
Concern is especially pronounced among younger generations, who are expected to face the greatest impacts of climate change. In a survey of young people across 10 countries, up to 65% in Finland, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom reported worrying about climate change, while up to 37% reported negative impacts on functioning. According to the survey, published in the Lancet Planetary Health, anxiety, guilt and anger were also frequently reported.
“Feeling worried, angry or sad about climate change can be understandable responses to a real and ongoing threat. These feelings are not, in themselves evidence of a mental health disorder,” said Dr Ledia Lazeri, Regional Adviser for Mental Health, WHO/Europe. “But when distress becomes overwhelming, affects daily life or leaves people feeling powerless, support matters. We need to help people – especially young people – build resilience, find connection and turn concern into meaningful contributions to address climate change, while ensuring that those who need professional mental health care can access it.”
From climate distress to community action
The new report examines 20 interventions across 15 countries in the WHO European Region, focusing on different ways of addressing climate-related distress, as well as mental health and psychosocial support following extreme weather events, primarily floods.
Examples from across the Region show how different approaches can support mental health and strengthen resilience.
In Slovenia, following the devastating floods of 2023, a coordinated response brought together government institutions, health professionals, humanitarian organizations and community groups. Mobile mental health teams, telephone hotlines, community activities and practical assistance supported thousands of affected households. Support continued beyond the immediate emergency, recognizing that psychological recovery can take much longer than physical clean-up.
The youth-focused “Coping with Climate Anxiety” project, led by the Estonian Green Movement and implemented with partners from 3 other European countries, developed training for youth workers, peer-support guidance, self-help workbooks and workshops for young people aged 16–25. Rather than framing climate anxiety as a mental disorder, the initiative focused on helping young people understand their emotions, strengthen coping skills and engage constructively with climate challenges.
Mental health must become part of climate action
Despite growing awareness, the report finds that responses remain fragmented, with important gaps in evidence, intervention design and evaluation. It calls for clearer guidance on when community-based support is appropriate and when specialized mental health care is needed. The report also highlights the potential of schools, community initiatives and nature-based activities to strengthen well-being and resilience. It emphasizes the need to integrate mental health and psychosocial support into emergency preparedness and recovery, while making mental health a more explicit part of national climate policies.
“When we talk about the health impacts of climate change, we often focus on what makes it into the headlines – surges in emergency calls for heat-related illness, injuries from floods or the devastation caused by wildfires and the smoke they produce,” said Francesca Racioppi, Head of the WHO European Centre for Environment, Climate Change and Health. “However, psychological trauma related to being a victim or witnessing extreme weather events can be just as disruptive, and the impacts may persist long after an emergency has ended. Protecting mental health must become part of how we prepare for climate hazards, support communities and plan for a changing climate. Climate action and mental health protection need to go hand in hand.”
WHO/Europe’s second European Programme of Work, 2026–2030, identifies climate and health action, alongside promoting mental health and well-being throughout life, as key strategic priorities. By bringing these two areas together, WHO/Europe aims to help countries build healthier, more resilient communities that are better equipped to respond to the challenges of a changing climate.