A review of mental health and wellbeing under climate change in small island developing states (SIDS)

TY - JOUR

T1 - A review of mental health and wellbeing under climate change in small island developing states (SIDS)

AU - Kelman, Ilan

AU - Ayeb-Karlsson, Sonja

AU - Rose-Clarke, Kelly

AU - Prost, Audrey

AU - Ronneberg, Espen

AU - Wheeler, Nicola

AU - Watts, Nicholas

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd

PY - 2021/3

Y1 - 2021/3

N2 - Small island developing states (SIDS) are often at the forefront of climate change impacts, including those related to health, but information on mental health and wellbeing is typically underreported. To help address this research lacuna, this paper reviews research about mental health and wellbeing under climate change in SIDS. Due to major differences in the literature's methodologies, results, and analyses, the method is an overview and qualitative evidence synthesis of peer-reviewed publications. The findings show that mental health and wellbeing in the context of climate change have yet to feature prominently and systematically in research covering SIDS. It seems likely that major adverse mental health and wellbeing impacts linked to climate change impacts will affect SIDS peoples. Similar outcomes might also emerge when discussing climate change related situations, scenarios, and responses, irrespective of what has actually happened thus far due to climate change. In the context of inadequate health systems and stigmatisation of mental health diagnoses and treatments, as tends to occur globally, climate change narratives might present an opening for conversations about addressing mental health and wellbeing issues for SIDS.

AB - Small island developing states (SIDS) are often at the forefront of climate change impacts, including those related to health, but information on mental health and wellbeing is typically underreported. To help address this research lacuna, this paper reviews research about mental health and wellbeing under climate change in SIDS. Due to major differences in the literature's methodologies, results, and analyses, the method is an overview and qualitative evidence synthesis of peer-reviewed publications. The findings show that mental health and wellbeing in the context of climate change have yet to feature prominently and systematically in research covering SIDS. It seems likely that major adverse mental health and wellbeing impacts linked to climate change impacts will affect SIDS peoples. Similar outcomes might also emerge when discussing climate change related situations, scenarios, and responses, irrespective of what has actually happened thus far due to climate change. In the context of inadequate health systems and stigmatisation of mental health diagnoses and treatments, as tends to occur globally, climate change narratives might present an opening for conversations about addressing mental health and wellbeing issues for SIDS.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102412490&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1088/1748-9326/abe57d

DO - 10.1088/1748-9326/abe57d

M3 - Review article

C2 - 34149865

SN - 1748-9326

VL - 16

SP - 033007

JO - Environmental Research Letters

JF - Environmental Research Letters

IS - 3

M1 - 033007

ER -