Connecting climate change and mental health and wellbeing in Oceania: a vision for decolonised and culturally-grounded research and action

Introduction Climate change poses escalating, interconnected threats to mental health and wellbeing across Oceania, a region marked by cultural diversity, geographic vulnerability, and strong Indigenous knowledge systems. Despite growing recognition, research remains fragmented and often reflects Western paradigms that overlook relational, collective, and place-based understandings of wellbeing.Methods This paper presents research and action priorities from the Oceania agenda developed through the Connecting Climate Minds initiative. The agenda draws on consultations with 80 experts across 12 countries, including stakeholders from research, policy, practice, and lived experience.Results Findings underscore the need for culturally grounded, decolonised approaches to climate–mental health research and action. Four cross-cutting themes emerged: (1) cumulative and compounding mental health impacts of climate change; (2) the protective role of cultural strengths, community cohesion, and Indigenous knowledge; (3) the importance of culturally contextualised, place-based research; and (4) the need for inclusive, participatory, and community-driven engagement in research and policymaking.Conclusion The Oceania agenda both complements and challenges global frameworks by prioritising equity, self-determination, and diverse epistemologies. It calls for a shift from deficit-based, individualised models towards holistic, relational, strengths-based approaches centred on community, culture, and connection to land, offering a locally grounded yet globally relevant roadmap for action.