A new review is set to explore how where we live impacts our mental health as the climate changes. Researchers including former UCRH Director, Professor Ross Bailie, are looking into how our homes and neighborhoods can either protect us or make us more vulnerable to climate-related stress and anxiety.
The study, outlined in BMJ Open, will gather and analyze existing research to understand how housing and neighborhood environments influence mental health during climate events like heatwaves or floods. The goal is to find ways to improve our living spaces to better support mental health in the face of climate change.
By focusing on the built environment, this review aims to provide insights that can help shape future policies and strategies. These findings could lead to better-designed homes and communities that help people stay mentally healthy as the climate continues to change.
This research is important because it highlights the need for integrated approaches to tackle both climate change and mental health challenges. It also underscores the role of our living environments in shaping our well-being.
Read more about their intended systematic scoping review here.
