2.D. Round table: Responding to climate change impacts on mental health in Europe

Abstract Climate change impacts on mental health come in various forms. They include the trauma of experiencing extreme weather events and the longer-term effects thereof, such as PTSD or depression; implications of heat for persons with mental health conditions, in particular those on certain medications; as well as climate anxiety, i.e. the mental and emotional distress in response to the ongoing changes in the climate. Whilst those mechanisms are increasingly recognised, less is known about the extent of those impacts in the European population and how they are being addressed in policy and practice. In recognition of this knowledge gap, this workshop organised by the European Climate and Health Observatory lines up panellists from academia, national public health institutes and European and international organisations to discuss what is being done to response to the mental health implications of the changing climate. Firstly, the responses at the individual level will be discussed. The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) will present the results of the 2025 cross-European Living and Working in the EU e-survey on experiencing climate change and concerns about future impacts, including the associations of those experiences and concerns with the characteristics of the respondents and their mental well-being. The Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management will share the COST Action CliMent findings on effective interventions, best practices, and regional strategies that contribute to global efforts in addressing and mitigating the psychological effects of climate change. Secondly, with regards to the institutional settings, the Austrian NPHI will present a concept for a digital solution to deal with heat impacts on health care in psychiatric/psychosocial care. The workshop will then focus on the coverage of mental health in policies and action plans. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development will share the findings of their work looking at the impact of climate change on mental health, the extent to which OECD countries are introducing policies to respond to the impact of climate change on mental health, and what these priorities these policies are focused on. Columbia University will zoom in on the coverage of mental health in heat health action plans across the globe, with a particular focus on Europe. To round off the discussion, the WHO Regional Office for Europe will discuss the lessons learnt from their 2025 collection of case studies on responses to mental health impacts of climate change. The discussion with the audience will focus on the sharing of practices in responding to mental health impacts and identification of gaps for further action in policy and practice. Key messages • Increased awareness of the urgency and importance of addressing the impacts of climate change on mental health. • Greater understanding on the effectiveness of the wide range of interventions in policy and practice that address mental health impacts of climate change. Speakers/Panellists Eszter Sandor Dankhazi Eurofound, Dublin, Ireland Chiara Cadeddu Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands Michele Cecchini OECD, Paris, France Robbie Parks Columbia University, New York, USA Mareike Kroll WHO/Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Germany