Executive Summary
Climate change is no longer only an environmental or economic challenge; it is increasingly recognized as a major threat to mental health and psychosocial well-being. Communities exposed to climate-related shocks such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, cyclones, wildfires, and slow-onset environmental degradation experience heightened levels of stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and social disruption. Climate-affected populations—particularly women, children, adolescents, older persons, and marginalized groups—often face compounding vulnerabilities due to displacement, loss of livelihoods, food insecurity, and weakened social support systems.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services in climate-affected areas remain critically under-resourced, fragmented, and insufficiently integrated into health, disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation systems. This grant proposal seeks support to design and implement comprehensive, community-based MHPSS interventions in climate-affected areas, strengthening individual and collective resilience while ensuring access to culturally appropriate, inclusive, and sustainable mental health care.
Over a three-year period, the project will integrate MHPSS into primary healthcare, community systems, and climate response mechanisms. It will build the capacity of frontline workers, establish referral pathways for specialized care, and promote community-led psychosocial resilience. The initiative aims to improve mental well-being, reduce psychological distress, and enhance adaptive capacity among climate-affected populations.
Background and Rationale
Climate change is increasingly associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Sudden-onset disasters such as floods, cyclones, and wildfires can cause acute trauma, grief, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Slow-onset climate stressors, including drought, sea-level rise, and desertification, contribute to chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness—often referred to as eco-anxiety or climate distress.
In climate-vulnerable regions, mental health impacts are exacerbated by poverty, limited access to healthcare, social inequality, and weak health systems. Displacement and migration due to climate events disrupt community networks and cultural identities, further undermining psychosocial well-being. Despite these growing needs, mental health services are often neglected in climate response and adaptation planning.
Global frameworks, including the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergency Settings, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) climate adaptation priorities, highlight the importance of addressing mental health in humanitarian and climate contexts. This project aligns with these frameworks by embedding MHPSS within climate resilience and community adaptation strategies.
Problem Statement
Climate-affected communities face multiple, interconnected mental health and psychosocial challenges:
- Increased prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma following climate-related disasters
- Limited availability of mental health services at community and primary care levels
- Low mental health awareness and high levels of stigma
- Inadequate integration of MHPSS into disaster preparedness and climate adaptation programs
- Shortage of trained mental health professionals in rural and climate-vulnerable areas
- Disproportionate impact on women, children, adolescents, and displaced populations
Without targeted MHPSS interventions, climate-related mental health burdens will continue to undermine individual well-being, social cohesion, and community resilience. There is an urgent need for scalable, culturally appropriate, and climate-responsive MHPSS programs.
Project Goal and Objectives
Overall Goal
To improve mental health and psychosocial well-being of climate-affected populations by delivering integrated, community-based MHPSS interventions that strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity.
Specific Objectives
- To increase access to basic mental health and psychosocial support services in climate-affected areas.
- To integrate MHPSS into primary healthcare, disaster response, and climate adaptation systems.
- To build capacity of community workers and frontline responders to provide psychological first aid and basic mental health care.
- To strengthen referral pathways for individuals requiring specialized mental health services.
- To promote community resilience, social cohesion, and adaptive coping strategies.
Target Population and Beneficiaries
The project will directly benefit approximately 200,000 people living in climate-affected and climate-vulnerable areas, including:
- Communities exposed to floods, droughts, heatwaves, and cyclones
- Women and girls facing increased care burdens and gender-based risks
- Children and adolescents experiencing trauma and educational disruption
- Displaced populations and climate migrants
- Older persons and persons with disabilities
Indirect beneficiaries include community health workers, teachers, social workers, disaster responders, and local authorities.
Project Approach and Key Components
- Community-Based MHPSS Services
- The project will establish safe, accessible community spaces where individuals and groups can receive psychosocial support. Interventions will include group counseling, peer support groups, stress management activities, and culturally appropriate healing practices. Community-led approaches will strengthen social networks and collective coping mechanisms.
- Integration with Primary Healthcare
- MHPSS services will be integrated into existing primary healthcare systems through task-sharing approaches. Primary healthcare providers will be trained to identify, manage, and refer common mental health conditions using evidence-based tools such as the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).
- Psychological First Aid and Crisis Response
- Frontline responders, community volunteers, and disaster management personnel will be trained in Psychological First Aid (PFA) to provide immediate, compassionate support during and after climate-related emergencies. Standard operating procedures will be developed to embed MHPSS into disaster preparedness and response plans.
- Specialized Care and Referral Systems
- Clear referral pathways will be established for individuals with severe mental health conditions requiring specialized care. Partnerships with district hospitals, mental health professionals, and tele-mental health services will ensure continuity of care, especially in remote areas.
- Child and Adolescent-Focused Interventions
- School- and community-based psychosocial programs will support children and adolescents affected by climate stress and disaster-related trauma. Activities will include life-skills education, trauma-informed care, and safe recreational spaces that promote emotional expression and resilience.
- Community Awareness and Stigma Reduction
- Gender, Equity, and Inclusion
- The project adopts a strong gender– and equity-focused approach. Interventions will address gender-specific stressors, including unpaid care work, gender-based violence, and livelihood insecurity. Safe and inclusive spaces will be ensured for women, girls, and marginalized groups. Participation of local communities in design and implementation will promote ownership and cultural relevance.
Implementation Strategy and Timeline
The project will be implemented over three years:
- Year 1: Needs assessment, community engagement, capacity building, pilot MHPSS services
- Year 2: Scale-up of community and facility-based services, integration with climate and disaster systems
- Year 3: Consolidation, policy integration, sustainability planning, endline evaluation
Expected Outcomes and Impact
- Improved mental health and psychosocial well-being among climate-affected populations
- Increased access to MHPSS services at community and primary healthcare levels
- Enhanced capacity of frontline workers to address mental health needs
- Strengthened community resilience and social cohesion
- Reduced stigma and increased mental health awareness
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
A comprehensive MEL framework will track service utilization, changes in psychosocial well-being, community resilience indicators, and system integration outcomes. Baseline and endline assessments, routine monitoring, and participatory learning reviews will inform adaptive management.
Sustainability and Scalability
Sustainability will be ensured by integrating MHPSS into government health and disaster systems, building local capacity, and leveraging community ownership. Use of task-sharing, digital tools, and policy engagement will support scalability to other climate-affected regions.
Risk Analysis and Mitigation
Potential risks include stigma, workforce turnover, and recurrent climate shocks. Mitigation strategies include continuous community engagement, flexible implementation models, staff support mechanisms, and strong coordination with local authorities.
Budget Overview (Indicative)
The indicative budget will cover capacity building, community-based services, integration with healthcare systems, monitoring and evaluation, and project management. A detailed budget will be developed in accordance with donor guidelines.
Conclusion
Mental health and psychosocial support is a critical yet often overlooked component of climate resilience. By addressing the psychological and social dimensions of climate impacts, this project will help communities not only survive climate shocks but also adapt, recover, and thrive. Grant support for this initiative will contribute to healthier individuals, stronger communities, and more resilient societies in the face of climate change.
