Young people in rural communities of the Global South, especially in climate-vulnerable areas, are facing severe mental health challenges due to the impacts of climate change, according to new research from Africa. The study highlights the importance of teaching climate-resilient farming and encouraging children to stay in school as potential solutions to mitigate these issues.
The groundbreaking research, conducted in remote villages in southern Madagascar, found that the emotional wellbeing of teens is severely affected by frequent climate disasters such as droughts, floods, and storms. For many youth, the fear caused by these events is immediate and intense, not something they worry about for the future, said Samuel Solomon, a psychology professor at University College London (UCL) and co-author of the study.
Madagascar, one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, faces recurrent challenges due to drought, extreme heat, and cyclones. These environmental changes are not only exacerbating hunger but also slowing the country’s development. The south of Madagascar, in particular, is suffering from desertification and water shortages.
The study surveyed 83 young people with an average age of 15, from six communities in southern Madagascar, and found alarmingly high levels of depression, anxiety, and climate-related concerns. The mental health issues were linked to the loss of household resources due to climate disasters. A staggering 90% of respondents reported their families had run out of food in the past year, and nearly 70% had gone without a meal for a day.
The lack of coping mechanisms, particularly the interruption of schooling, further worsened the mental health situation. One participant explained, “Before, despite difficulty we continued to go to school, but now we stopped because our parents have no income.”
In response, the study recommends policies that keep children in school and teach them climate-resilient farming techniques. It argues that solutions tailored to the needs of rural communities in developing countries must involve local voices and address food and water security to reduce climate-related mental health strains.
Isabelle Mareschal, a UCL professor involved in the study, emphasized that while climate activism is often promoted in wealthier countries, the strategies needed for the Global South should be grounded in local realities. Strengthening food and water security, along with education on climate change adaptation, could alleviate some of the mental health pressures faced by young people in these communities.
Globally, experts are calling for more attention to be paid to the mental health impacts of climate change. The World Health Organization reports that only 3% of national climate action plans include mental health support. During a COP29 panel in Azerbaijan, Emma Lawrance of the Connecting Climate Minds initiative stated that policymakers need to be more aware of the emotional toll climate change is taking on youth, urging the involvement of young people in finding solutions.
While climate activism is often seen as a remedy for climate anxiety, it’s not always a viable option for young people in impoverished rural areas. However, youth in urban parts of the Global South are increasingly joining forces to tackle climate change. In Nigeria, 26-year-old Ayomide Olude, motivated by her growing anxiety, joined the group SustyVibes, which organizes events where young people can discuss their concerns. Olude now helps train Nigerian mental health professionals on climate-related issues.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, teenager Emmanuel Jidisa, whose family was devastated by floods in 2022, now works with UNICEF to encourage eco-friendly actions in schools. Similarly, Mongolian climate campaigner Bilgudei Gankhulug, who lost his family’s livestock to a harsh winter phenomenon, has developed an app to help nomadic herders adapt to climate changes and protect their livelihoods.
These young people are finding ways to cope with their personal losses by taking practical action against climate change. As Jidisa put it, “Everyone now has to get involved. The biggest changes begin when people directly affected by the situation act.”
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