Mothers, children: Climate change increasingly triggering mental health crisis

Climate change is deepening a mental health crisis in Pakistan, disproportionately affecting mothers and children. Recurring floods, heatwaves exceeding 45–50°C, and droughts are fueling anxiety, depression, and trauma, particularly among women and children, who face repeated disruptions to education, homes, and livelihoods. Research reviewed by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and published in *Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness* links climate anxiety to poor mental health outcomes in children, citing fears of future disasters and loss of stability as key stressors. The 2022 floods devastated over 33 million people, displacing nearly 8 million and impacting 16 million children, according to SDPI’s Head of Ecological Sustainability, Zainab Naeem. She noted that climate disasters disrupt education, force displacement, and create uncertainty, while extreme heat exacerbates daily stress for students, workers, and women navigating overcrowded public transport with little relief. Pregnant women face additional risks, including limited access to maternal healthcare and safe shelter during crises. Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, SDPI’s Executive Director, emphasizes that climate resilience efforts must address both physical reconstruction and psychological recovery. He warns that climate impacts are multidimensional, requiring social protection measures alongside infrastructure rebuilding. Naeem adds that climate anxiety is an underdiscussed but rapidly growing consequence, with adolescent girls and women facing compounded challenges due to mobility barriers and safety concerns during disasters. Pakistan, despite contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, remains among the most climate-vulnerable nations. The SDPI highlights that recurrent disasters leave lasting scars, including chronic stress, exhaustion, and reduced productivity. Experts stress the need for integrated policies that prioritize mental health support alongside environmental adaptation to mitigate long-term harm.