Understanding mental health impacts of climate change through lived experiences in at risk populations
Abstract Climate Change is a pressing and serious issue, which is impacting nations worldwide. Likewise, Pakistan is also facing numerous natural disasters and rapid changes in its weather patterns. Climate related disasters affect people’s mental health in addition to causing physical and financial...
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| Format: | Article |
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Springer
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Discover Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-025-00356-1 |
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| author | Javeria Asim Uzma Ilyas |
| author_facet | Javeria Asim Uzma Ilyas |
| author_sort | Javeria Asim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Climate Change is a pressing and serious issue, which is impacting nations worldwide. Likewise, Pakistan is also facing numerous natural disasters and rapid changes in its weather patterns. Climate related disasters affect people’s mental health in addition to causing physical and financial harm. Along with climate related disasters, the changing weather patterns and climate change also impact the mental health of the masses. The current research adopted a qualitative method to explore the mental health effects of climate change in Pakistan. A total of n = 9 participants were recruited for the interview, in order to explore their perceptions and perspectives on the theme of climate change. The Interviews were analyzed through thematic analysis by the researchers and through the utilization of Nvivo12, which revealed a total of 2 themes. The themes extracted from the data analysis were distress and pro-environmental behaviors. The themes revealed that since Pakistan is a vulnerable country regarding climate change, the masses are experiencing psychological distress related to climate change. There is a greater need to adopt pro-environmental behaviors and understand the issue with reference to Pakistan’s social and economic situation. This complex trajectory of mental health correlates in response to climate change is impacting the people of Pakistan. These further stress the importance of climate change mitigation, along with establishing mental health services for such individuals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dc058ac8871e4cd39179bfa70bcf6eb4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2731-4537 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-dc058ac8871e4cd39179bfa70bcf6eb42025-08-20T02:06:35ZengSpringerDiscover Psychology2731-45372025-06-015111110.1007/s44202-025-00356-1Understanding mental health impacts of climate change through lived experiences in at risk populationsJaveria Asim0Uzma Ilyas1Department of Professional Psychology, Bahria University H-11Psychology Department, Forman Christian College UniversityAbstract Climate Change is a pressing and serious issue, which is impacting nations worldwide. Likewise, Pakistan is also facing numerous natural disasters and rapid changes in its weather patterns. Climate related disasters affect people’s mental health in addition to causing physical and financial harm. Along with climate related disasters, the changing weather patterns and climate change also impact the mental health of the masses. The current research adopted a qualitative method to explore the mental health effects of climate change in Pakistan. A total of n = 9 participants were recruited for the interview, in order to explore their perceptions and perspectives on the theme of climate change. The Interviews were analyzed through thematic analysis by the researchers and through the utilization of Nvivo12, which revealed a total of 2 themes. The themes extracted from the data analysis were distress and pro-environmental behaviors. The themes revealed that since Pakistan is a vulnerable country regarding climate change, the masses are experiencing psychological distress related to climate change. There is a greater need to adopt pro-environmental behaviors and understand the issue with reference to Pakistan’s social and economic situation. This complex trajectory of mental health correlates in response to climate change is impacting the people of Pakistan. These further stress the importance of climate change mitigation, along with establishing mental health services for such individuals.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-025-00356-1Climate changeMental healthDistressPro-environmental behaviorsEco-hopelessnessDenial |
| spellingShingle | Javeria Asim Uzma Ilyas Understanding mental health impacts of climate change through lived experiences in at risk populations Discover Psychology Climate change Mental health Distress Pro-environmental behaviors Eco-hopelessness Denial |
| title | Understanding mental health impacts of climate change through lived experiences in at risk populations |
| title_full | Understanding mental health impacts of climate change through lived experiences in at risk populations |
| title_fullStr | Understanding mental health impacts of climate change through lived experiences in at risk populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding mental health impacts of climate change through lived experiences in at risk populations |
| title_short | Understanding mental health impacts of climate change through lived experiences in at risk populations |
| title_sort | understanding mental health impacts of climate change through lived experiences in at risk populations |
| topic | Climate change Mental health Distress Pro-environmental behaviors Eco-hopelessness Denial |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-025-00356-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT javeriaasim understandingmentalhealthimpactsofclimatechangethroughlivedexperiencesinatriskpopulations AT uzmailyas understandingmentalhealthimpactsofclimatechangethroughlivedexperiencesinatriskpopulations |