The ongoing challenges posed by climate change are taking a toll on global mental health. A recent study delves into the specific experiences of Tanzanian youth, exploring feelings of distress related to climate change, awareness of climate issues, and climate-sensitive risk factors. It also investigates the relationship between these factors and the mental health of young Tanzanians.
Methods:
Conducted between January 25 and March 3, 2021, this cross-sectional study involved Tanzanian youth aged 18 to 23. The study included 2053 participants from the Mbeya and Iringa regions as part of a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Depression symptom severity was classified using the ten-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, with a threshold of at least 10 indicating potential depression. Regardless of their level of climate change awareness, respondents were asked about their feelings of distress regarding climate change, using inclusive language to encompass changing weather patterns or seasons.
The study estimated rate differences in climate change distress (categorized as slight, moderate, or extreme vs. none) based on various youth characteristics, the extent of climate awareness, and climate-sensitive livelihoods (e.g., agriculture, livestock management) and living conditions (e.g., food or water insecurity). Generalized linear models were used to analyze the data. The prevalence of depression was compared across different levels of climate change distress and climate-sensitive living conditions.
Findings:
Out of the 2053 participants, 946 (46%) reported experiencing some level of distress due to climate change. Factors associated with higher distress included being female, having higher education, stronger religious beliefs, older age, and working in extreme temperatures. Adjusting for climate awareness, which was strongly associated with climate distress, partially explained some of these associations.
Depression was 23 percentage points higher (95% CI 17–28) among youth who experienced severe water insecurity compared to those who did not. Similarly, those with severe food insecurity had 23 percentage points higher depression (95% CI 17–28) than those without food insecurity. Additionally, young people who reported climate change distress also exhibited worse mental health, with extremely distressed youth having 18 percentage points higher depression (95% CI 6–30) compared to those reporting no distress.
Interpretation:
The study highlights the mental health implications of living in conditions exacerbated by climate change and feeling distressed about climate change, especially among young individuals in low-resource settings. This suggests that climate change can impact youth mental health through multiple pathways, including their living conditions and emotional responses to climate-related concerns.
Funding:
The research was supported by various organizations, including the Erasmus Trustfonds, Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research, UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, Oak Foundation, UNICEF, UK’s Department of International Development, the Swedish Development Cooperation Agency, and Irish Aid.
The study emphasizes the critical need to address climate change’s impact on mental health, particularly among vulnerable populations, and calls for comprehensive strategies to mitigate these adverse effects.
