A women fills her daughter’s dish with water during a dry season in Kenya. The next drought will inevitably come, which is beyond our control.
We often discuss the physical effects of climate
change, such as flooded roads, withered crops, and empty dams. However, we
frequently overlook its impact on mental health, particularly for individuals
already living on the margins of society.
In a new
study published in eBioMedicine, our team at the Aga Khan
University’s Brain and Mind Institute examined the effects of climate shocks, like
droughts, heatwaves, and failed rains, on the mental health of women in rural
Kenya. The evidence was striking. We found clear, measurable links between
extreme weather events and increased levels of depression and suicidal thoughts
among women in Kilifi County, a region where most families depend on
small-scale farming and are heavily reliant on the weather.
Women living in informal settlements were particularly
vulnerable. Compared to those from more stable rural households, they were
significantly more likely to experience psychological distress after
climate-related events. For instance, when rainfall was low, reports of
suicidal thoughts rose by nearly 30 percent. When rising food prices were
factored in, that figure increased even further.
These statistics reflect the daily struggles of women
who wake up wondering how they will feed their families, when the next rain
will arrive, and how to manage their limited resources. Many are quietly
crumbling under this pressure, with little support available. Mental health
services are scarce in these areas, and there is still a strong stigma
surrounding the seeking of help.
What makes this research notable is that we were able
to demonstrate, with robust data, that these mental health struggles are not
just coinciding with climate events; they are directly caused by them. This is
one of the first studies in Africa to clearly establish the causal connection.
It confirms what we have long suspected: climate change is not only an
environmental issue but also a public health concern. Mental health must be
included in this conversation.
So, what can we do moving forward?
First, we need to ensure that mental health is
integrated into every climate resilience plan. This includes training community
health workers to recognize signs of distress, providing safe and accessible
mental health services where people live and work, and collaborating closely
with local leaders, especially women, to design solutions that fit their
communities.
Second, we must take this issue seriously at the
policy level. As Kenya adapts to climate change, mental health should be
prioritized alongside food security, water access, and economic development.
These issues are deeply interconnected.
Finally, we need to continue listening. The women in
our study are not merely research subjects; they are voices that can help us
understand the lived experience of the climate crisis. By ignoring their
experiences, we risk overlooking one of the most urgent challenges of our time.
The next drought will inevitably come, which is beyond
our control. However, we can choose how we respond. We can decide whether to
keep mental health invisible or treat it as essential to the well-being of
every community, particularly those most affected by climate change.
Prof
Cyprian Mostert (pictured) is the Brain Health Economics Lead at the Brain and Mind
Institute at Aga Khan University. He was the lead author of this recent study
on The impact of climate shocks exposure
to depressive and suicidal ideations among female population in Kilifi rural
areas, Kenya – ScienceDirect
published in eBioMedicine.