The Mental Health Implications of Climate Change: Understanding Eco-Emotions and Suicidality
| Thursday, June 5, 2025 |
| 3:25 PM - 3:55 PM |
Overview
Prof Kairi Kõlves
Professor - Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention,
Director - WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University
Presenter
Professor Kairi Kõlves
Professor
Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith Uni
The Mental Health Implications of Climate Change: Understanding Eco-Emotions and Suicidality
Abstract
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals report acknowledges the harmful impact of rising sea levels and temperatures, and the increased likelihood of extreme weather events such as floods and drought on various social determinants of health. The direct and indirect effects of climate change (hotter temperatures, deforestation, air quality, etc.) on mental health and wellbeing have been highlighted. Additionally, the distressing experiences of eco-emotions such as eco-anxiety, eco-grief, solastalgia and others have been reported to increase. However, despite the prevention of suicidal behaviour and ideation being an international priority and the increasing focus on the negative impacts of climate change on physical and mental health, limited research has focussed on the link between eco-emptions and suicidality.
This presentation aims to provide better understanding about the concepts related to the climate change and eco-emotions in the context of mental health with a specific focus on suicidality. Additionally, implications to the mental health will be addressed.
Key Learnings:
1. Considering increasing prevalence of eco-emotions there is need for better understanding of those concepts and their implications on mental health.
2. There is an urgent need for high level research to analyse the association between eco-emotions and suicidality to propose implications.
This presentation aims to provide better understanding about the concepts related to the climate change and eco-emotions in the context of mental health with a specific focus on suicidality. Additionally, implications to the mental health will be addressed.
Key Learnings:
1. Considering increasing prevalence of eco-emotions there is need for better understanding of those concepts and their implications on mental health.
2. There is an urgent need for high level research to analyse the association between eco-emotions and suicidality to propose implications.
Biography
Professor Kairi Kõlves works at the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention and is the Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University. She has been working in suicide research and prevention over 25 years and has been involved in several national and international projects and has been an adviser to the World Health Organization. She is a member of several advisory committees (e.g., the WHO’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use). Her work has been published in over 200 publications.
