Research from Trinity College Dublin highlights the severe mental health crisis among adolescents in climate-affected areas, particularly southern Madagascar. The study reveals high anxiety and depression levels among youths grappling with the impacts of climate change. It calls for integrating mental health support into climate adaptation efforts to mitigate these adverse effects on young people’s wellbeing.
Recent research from Trinity College Dublin indicates that climate change significantly contributes to a mental health crisis among adolescents, particularly in areas severely affected by environmental changes. Published in the ‘Journal of Climate Change and Health’, the study emphasizes the necessity to incorporate mental health support into climate adaptation strategies to assist youth in confronting an unpredictable future.
The study highlights the profound impact on adolescent mental wellbeing in southern Madagascar, where participants reported alarming levels of anxiety, depression, and concerns related to climate change. The researchers gathered data through surveys involving 83 adolescents and conducted focus groups with 48 participants across six rural villages in March 2024, revealing a pervasive sense of hopelessness and powerlessness among young individuals.
Lead author Dr. Kristin Hadfield clarified the dual nature of climate change as both an environmental and mental health issue. The findings indicate that continuous climate stress—not just extreme weather—is adversely affecting adolescent mental health. While youth in affluent nations often express anxiety about future risks, Madagascar’s youth are already experiencing the harsh realities of climate impact.
The study identified three primary pathways through which climate change affects mental health: loss of household resources, uncertainty regarding the future, and disruption of established coping mechanisms. Alarmingly, food insecurity is rampant; 90% of households reported running out of food in the past year, and 69% of adolescents experienced full days without nourishment.
Participants expressed intense distress regarding their families’ hardships, with many having seen individuals die from starvation. One adolescent recounted, “so many died … there were many elders, but they died because of the malnutrition.” Another highlighted the dire conditions by stating, “there is no water and when sunlight is burning, we are suffering.”
Experts, including Isabelle Mareschal from Queen Mary University of London, emphasized the heightened vulnerability of youth in developing nations to climate change’s mental health effects. These findings aim to inform interventions targeting mental health improvements for adolescents in low- and middle-income countries.
Dr. Nambinina Rasolomalala from the Catholic University of Madagascar noted the pervasive themes of famine, fear, and dread experienced by adolescents in southern Madagascar. Coupled with agricultural failures and scarce water supplies, many young people are compelled to leave their communities, while those who remain endure hunger, disrupted education, and overwhelming despair.
Satry Ramaroson, Madagascar Country Director for CBM Global, affirmed that climate change exacerbates suffering for children in southern Madagascar, particularly among those with disabilities due to recurrent droughts prompting food crises and a loss of hope.
In summary, the findings from Trinity College Dublin underscore the urgent need to address the mental health crises fueled by climate change, particularly among young populations in vulnerable regions like southern Madagascar. The data reflects alarming levels of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness among adolescents, necessitating integrated mental health support in climate adaptation strategies. Overall, it is imperative to recognize and respond to the dual impact of climate change as both an environmental challenge and a significant mental health concern.
Original Source: www.tcd.ie
