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. 2022 May;31(5):701-713.
doi: 10.1007/s00787-020-01615-3. Epub 2020 Aug 26.

Report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change: implications for the mental health policy of children and adolescents in Europe-a scoping review

Vera Clemens  1 , Eckart von Hirschhausen  2 , Jörg M Fegert  3   4
Affiliations

Report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change: implications for the mental health policy of children and adolescents in Europe-a scoping review

Vera Clemens et al. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2022 May.

Abstract

Climate change is a worldwide challenge. Its consequences do encompass severe threats not only for the existence and somatic health, but also for the mental health of children and adolescents. Mental health can be impaired by three types of consequences. Direct consequences of climate change, such as natural disasters and indirect consequences, such as loss of land, flight and migration, exposure to violence, change of social, ecological, economic or cultural environment. Moreover, the increasing awareness of the existential dimension of climate change in children and adolescents can influence their well-being or challenge their mental health. Consequences of climate change for somatic health may interact with mental health or have psychological sequelae in children and adolescents. Based on the estimates by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we have summarized current data on these differential pathways as to how climate change affects the mental health of children worldwide through selective literature research on Pubmed. Mental health sequelae of direct and indirect consequences of climate change, increased awareness and physical health problems caused by climate change are presented. We give insights into special vulnerabilities of children and adolescents and identify high-risk groups. As the "Fridays for Future" movement has been initiated in northern Europe, we will discuss these results with a focus on children and adolescents in Europe. The results indicate that climate change is a serious threat to children and adolescent mental health. Children´s rights, mental health and climate change should not continue to be seen as separate points; instead, they need to be brought together to address this major challenge determining the future of our children and their descendants.

Keywords: Children and adolescents; Climate change; Global warming; Mental health; Psychological consequences.

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Conflict of interest statement

VC states that she does not have any conflict of interest. EvH states that he is a member of Scientist for Future, an initiative of scientists to support the student movement “Fridays for Future”. JMF has received research funding from the EU, DFG (German Research Foundation), BMG (Federal Ministry of Health), BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research), BMFSFJ (Federal Ministry of Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth), BfArM (Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices), German armed forces, several state ministries of social affairs, State Foundation Baden-Württemberg, Volkswagen Foundation, Pontifical Gregorian University, CJD, Caritas, Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart. Moreover, he received travel grants, honoraria and sponsoring for conferences and medical educational purposes from DFG, AACAP, NIMH/NIH, EU, Pro Helvetia, Shire, several universities, professional associations, political foundations, and German federal and state ministries during the last 5 years. Every grant and every honorarium has to be declared to the law office of the University Hospital Ulm. Professor Fegert holds no stocks of pharmaceutical companies. JMF is Member of the Academic Advisory Board on Family Affairs of the German Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and Chairman of the Council. As a result of this position, he is a member of the Sustainability Science Platform of the Scientific Advisory Councils of the Federal Republic of Germany and, therefore, deals with sustainability issues for families and children in this function.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Climate change can affect mental health in directly by, e.g., natural disasters, indirectly by consequences of climate change that affects social, economic and environmental aspects of life and by overarching awareness of climate change and its global consequences. Additionally, physical health problems may impact mental health
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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