Climate Change and Youth: Fast-Tracking Mental Health Solutions

Abstract Worldwide, we are facing escalating mental health impacts related to climate change. Young people are disproportionately affected by climate-related extreme weather events such as severe heatwaves and floods. As climate change accelerates, increased frequency and severity of these weather events, along with awareness of the global environmental crisis, contribute to rising levels of hopelessness, anxiety, and distress among young people. This emotional burden is compounded by young people’s exclusion from decision-making processes. Interventions targeting the mental health impacts of climate change are still in their infancy. We call for innovative research designs, such as adaptive platform trials, to rapidly evaluate and implement youth-specific mental health interventions in the context of climate change. We highlight the importance of a whole-of-society approach, involving collaboration between young people, researchers, clinicians, educators, and communities to develop tailored interventions. Governments and research bodies should prioritise dedicated funding for climate change and mental health research at local, national, and global levels. Moreover, it is essential to integrate youth perspectives into policymaking and strengthen climate action to mitigate mental health impacts.