New framework and global evidence for the economic aspects of climate-mental health actions

Introduction

Currently, mental health is not well integrated in climate policies, linked public health strategies, and climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. Evidence on associated economic burden, economic value of actions and financing remains limited.

Methods

We developed a multi-sectoral conceptual framework for the complex economic and financial aspects of climate-mental health actions, and conducted linked evidence synthesis. First, existing umbrella and systematic reviews were screened for quantitative economic and financing evidence. Second, a new global review following PRISMA-ScR and shaped by lived experience and policy stakeholder inputs was conducted in PubMed and Embase for economic burden, value of mental health interventions, mental health co-benefits of mitigation and adaptation, economic resilience measures, and scaling-up/financing evidence for 2015-2026.

Results

Overall, 3,266 records were identified and 349 included for synthesis. Economic evidence was scarce in existing reviews and highly heterogeneous in primary studies. Most evidence came from high-income settings and focused on healthcare resource use linked to temperature extremes and air pollution. Evidence on economic evaluation, return on investment, scalability, budget impact and financing was limited. Some targeted interventions and climate-related measures appeared cost-effective or potentially cost-saving, but evidence was fragmented and rarely actionable.

Discussion

Climate-related mental health impacts generate measurable costs, yet current estimates likely understate the true impact and remain geographically skewed. Standardised economic methods and outcome frameworks that capture broader societal impacts are needed. Evidence-based interventions should be embedded in routine systems and supported by cross-sector coordination, workforce and infrastructure development, and sustained public funding to build resilient, low-carbon, climate-prepared mental health systems.

Key messages

• Climate change and mental health are interlinked with substantial economic and financial consequences, yet the quantitative monetized evidence base is very limited.

• Standardised methods and outcome framework capturing the complex economic aspects of climate-mental health actions are needed for impact assessment, explicit policy consideration and sustained funding.