Community-Engaged Approaches to Climate Change and Mental Health (2025-2026)

Background

Climate change poses substantial threats to human health, particularly mental health. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events and environmental destruction impact mental health directly and indirectly and at both the individual and communal levels. For example, climate change exposes individuals to traumatic weather events leading to physical consequences like heat injury and cardiovascular conditions. At the same time, unpredictable and stressful environmental conditions can disrupt the political and economic status quo, leaving entire communities unsettled and uncertain about the future.

Historically marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by climate change. Effective climate change mitigation and adaptation requires partnership between academia and community-based organizations, but gaps exist in understanding local needs, building cultural competence and developing engagement methods to facilitate effective partnership.

Fostering local partnerships and co-producing knowledge with community-based organizations can build trust, improve health equity and develop solutions to address the mental health impacts of climate change.

Project Description

This project team will develop a community-engaged research program aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change on mental health in Durham County.

Project team members will conduct a systematic review of academic literature to develop an understanding of the ways in which climate change affects mental health in Durham. This evidence synthesis will investigate a focused topic related to mental health and climate change, and students will be trained in sampling principles, cultural humility and inclusive research strategy as they explore the importance of community engagement in climate research and interventions. 

In addition to performing a literature review, team members will identify and interview potential community partners in Durham County to explore their needs and engage in partnership-building and the exchange of ideas and priorities. Team members will conduct semi-structured interviews with these partners to explore their perspectives on climate change’s impact on mental health, helping the team create a critical foundation for robust, long-term community partnerships.

Anticipated Outputs

Peer-reviewed manuscripts; community partnership program; presentations and/or publications

Student Opportunities

Ideally, this team will include 1 graduate student and 4-6 undergraduate students interested in population health, global health, environmental studies, sociology, anthropology and public policy, but students from all disciplines are welcome to apply.

Applicants should be enthusiastic about the opportunity to foster relationships with community partners from diverse backgrounds and should have a passion for climate and health equity. Potential team members should also have a collaborative mindset and demonstrate adaptability, strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Team members will develop community engagement skills and expertise in the impact of climate change on mental health; conduct academic literature review; participate in study design development for meetings with community partners; collect and analyze data from community partner interviews; and contribute to the development and writing of academic manuscripts. Field data collection will take place in Durham. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in professional development workshops and seminars.

In Fall 2025, the team will meet on Wednesdays from 3-4 p.m.

Timing

Fall 2025 – Summer 2026

• Fall 2025: Complete training workshops and lectures on climate change and mental health, community engagement and research methods; develop protocol for evidence synthesis; write evidence synthesis
• Spring 2026: Develop sampling protocol for enumerating potential community-based organization partners; execute sampling protocol and identify subsets to engage; develop semi-structured interview guide for partner engagement; complete evidence synthesis write-up
• Summer 2026 (optional): Continue manuscript writing and dissemination

Crediting

Academic credit available for fall and spring semesters