The impact of Climate Change on Women and Mental Health

Climate change brings exposure to heat, air, pollution, poorer quality food, and infectious diseases that have a significant direct impact on gender and mental health. It acts as a health risk amplifier and reinforces inequalities. These environmental impacts are multifaceted in their consequences and raise risks of depression, suicide, violent victimization, post-traumatic stress disorder, and various other psychiatric symptoms. Women also suffer increased climate psychological risks. Therefore, this study seeks to examine how climate change has impacted the mental health of women and it explores the role of religion and its effect on women’s mental health. The study employed the scoping review methodology where relevant literature across applicable disciplines comprehensively reviewed the multiple pathways through which climate change interacts with gender and mental health. These climate change-fuel disasters are causing harmful impacts on women’s mental health such as post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), depression, anxiety, increased substance use or misuse, and suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, the effects of climate change extend to an individual’s overall well-being. Considering the multiple and interconnected pathways of climate impacts and their influence on mental health determinants, we must inform evidence-based interventions. Thus, appropriate action like social support, family therapy, and bibliotherapy in depression and anxiety. Also, population-level interventions, changes in mental health policies, and psychosocial treatments that center on climate justice can reduce the current and future mental health burden, while simultaneously improving the conditions that nurture well-being and equality. Hence, climate change impacts on mental health and the role religion plays must be given greater attention in policy, practice, and research.