A report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), published in November 2025, says that extreme weather, including flooding and heat, is among the most significant climate-related risks to mental health in the UK today. The risks are difficult for vulnerable groups when extreme conditions disrupt transport, healthcare access, housing, work, and social support.
An awareness of climate change is leading to anxiety about the future, particularly among children and young people. In the absence of appropriate interventions and adaptations, these impacts are likely to grow as the climate warms.
The impact on mental health is not felt equally, more adversely affecting the poor. Climate warming will exacerbate mental health inequalities, with impacts greatest on rural and agricultural communities and young people. It is already impacting mental health, and these risks will increase as the climate warms and extreme weather events become more frequent and severe.
Implementing preparedness, such as high-quality early warning systems, advanced warning systems, flood defences and timely dissemination of information, reduce the risk of mental health difficulties, and providing targeted mental health support for communities affected by adverse weather events may be appropriate.
Farming communities in the UK already experience high rates of mental health challenges, with only 55% of farmers feeling positive about their mental health. Anticipatory anxiety is experienced about the effects that climate change will have and a perceived lack of ability to carry out actions to make a difference.
50% of 1,000 children surveyed in an article published by The Lancet Planetary Health, the Lancet Planetary Health, reported feeling extremely worried about climate change.
Many interventions are targeted at support following extreme weather. It is important to support and address mental health impacts that persist beyond the immediate crisis. Depression is more common than PTSD, even after climate disasters, so interventions need to reflect this as well as ongoing, long-term treatment.
Urban design strategies need to provide benefits, such as improving mental health through increasing physical activity, shaded areas and social connectivity.
Climate change can lead to difficult thoughts and feelings, mental health problems, physical health problems, and social inequalities. As well as increasing already existing health problems. Heat can adversely affect people taking certain medications with increased or new side effects and other medications can make the skin very sensitive to sunlight. Heat can also cause sleep difficulties, leading to lower resilience and poorer mental health.
Trauma and PTSD may result from climate change events such as storms, flash floods, or raging wildfires leaves long-lasting scars. Displacement and loss of community by forced evacuation or permanent relocation destroys social safety nets, livelihoods, and routine. ‘The Heat Wave Effect’ is a direct link between soaring heat waves and increases in irritability, aggression, psychiatric emergencies, and hospital admissions. High temperatures decrease sleep quality and cause stress within the body, escalating mood disorders.
Currently there is no clinical diagnosis for how climate change impacts mental health (it is categorised as another diagnosis if it meets the clinical criteria for that) and may be considered these difficult feelings are understandable reactions to a threat.
‘Eco-Anxiety’ is the chronic fear of environmental doom, ‘Solastalgia’ is a term coined by philosopher Glenn Albrecht, referring to the distress caused by environmental change impacting a place you call home and ‘Climate Grief’ is the sorrow felt when witnessing the loss of ecosystems, species, or familiar weather patterns.
Acknowledge your emotions about climate change, accept that your feelings are a valid response to real events. Learning about climate change can help us stay informed and find ways to help. It is not your individual responsibility. Avoid the doom and gloom around it by trying to do your own bit, recycling, reusing things and buying items from charity shops so they get a second life and connect with like-minded people. Spend time in nature, time in green spaces, growing food or bringing plants into your home can help improve your mood.
Try to set designated times to catch up on the news, mute overwhelming accounts, and balance bad news with stories of environmental restoration and technological progress. Consider joininga community garden and switch to local produce. Regular exposure to green space lowers cortisol levels and reduces anxiety.
Look after your health and be objective in what you as one person can achieve.
You can find more resources here
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/blogs/climate-crisis-critical-threat-mental-health