Nidhi Nagabhatla is Panellist at the 16th International Balkan Education and Science Congress
As a panellist, Nidhi Nagabhatla will contribute the following points
Policy Making and Good Practices for Climate Resilience and Mental Health at the Regional Level
Climate change represents one of the most pressing threats to public health , with profound implications for mental health that remain largely underexplored. The COST Action CliMent (Climate Change Impacts on Mental Health in Europe, CA23113) was launched in October 2024 to address this critical gap through a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary research network involving over 30 European countries.
While European countries increasingly recognize the mental health crisis, explicit integration of climate change impacts into mental health policies remains limited. Analysis of national climate adaptation strategies and health policies reveals significant gaps:
- only half of national climate adaptation strategies acknowledge mental health impacts from climate change, primarily focusing on trauma from extreme weather events.
- less than one-fifth of national health strategies explicitly address climate-mental health linkages.
- emerging issues such as eco-anxiety, climate grief, and distress from anticipated environmental changes are rarely covered in existing frameworks.
Dr Nidhi Nagabhatla, chair of the Working Group of COST Action CliMent, which represents a pioneering pan-European effort to systematically understand and address the climate-mental health nexus through coordinated research, policy development, and capacity building, will reflect on how strengthening mental health components in climate resilience policies, promoting evidence-based interventions, and fostering multi-sectoral collaboration. She will also reflect the relevance of maintaining individual and societal well-being amidst the escalating challenges posed by climate change.
She will reflect on how careful, evidence-based communication around climate change is essential to avoid overwhelming populations while promoting proactive mental health strategies. This includes addressing eco-anxiety, climate grief, and distress from anticipated environmental changes through supportive messaging and community resilience building.
