Reimagining Social Work Interventions for Children's Mental Health and Environmental Justice in Urban Slums

This study investigated the inter-linkages between environmental factors, mental health, and the social work role in Sammanthranapura, an urban slum community where people's lives are constrained by climate change. The research question is: How do these environmental factors impinge on the mental health of its residents, especially children, and how social work interventions can help address the challenges?. This mixed-methods approach was informed by conducting an art workshop with children aged 6-13 years old to investigate their perceptions about their environment. Artwork was subjected to thematic analysis, complemented by focus group discussions with children and separate interviews with teachers and parents. In conclusion, children in Sammanthranapura could have some constraints, by the unavailability of green space and a probable stressfully surrounded environment, which has been depicted through the artworks and focus groups. Such limitations quite correspond with the existing literature regarding negative mental health impacts of limited availability to nature. In that respect, a need arises to consider including children's voices into environmental decision-making. Environmental justice perspective interventions in social work are recommended in Sammanthranapura through community gardening, teaching regarding climate change and mental health, and art therapy. These could enhance mental well-being among children and build resilience among members of this community amidst this climatic shift. This paper adds to the emerging evidence on how social work contributes to promoting environmental justice for the improvement of child well-being in urban slums.