Mental health in a changing climate: lessons and practical policy steps from WHO/Europe

Abstract

Climate change is a growing public health emergency with major impacts on mental health and well-being in the WHO European Region. Responding to increasing Member State interest and aligned with the second European Programme of Work (EPW2, 2026–2030) priorities on climate-health action and improved mental health across the life course, WHO/Europe is strengthening work at the intersection of mental health and climate change. To support countries with actionable intelligence on “what works”, the European Centre for Environment and Health launched a call for case studies to map interventions addressing climate-related mental health outcomes across the WHO European Region. The call identified 20 eligible interventions across 15 countries. Six interventions focused on mental health and psychosocial support in acute hazard planning and response (mainly floods), while 14 interventions addressed climate emotions linked to vicarious, direct, and indirect exposure through prevention-oriented approaches, action research and advocacy. This presentation will synthesize key lessons learned from the call and translate them into a concise set of practical actions across sectors for policy-makers, spanning mental health promotion and prevention to curative responses, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations.