MHES Highlights Links Between Climate Change and Mental Health

The 2025 World Mental Health Day theme, “Access to Services- Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”, focuses on the urgent need to support the mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by humanitarian emergencies. Humanitarian crises come in a variety of forms, with conflict, public health emergencies and natural disasters being the most common.  Cayman’s investments in our local healthcare system and facilities, as well as disaster preparedness and response initiatives, have served to mitigate a climate change related public health crisis within our shores.

“While the COVID pandemic is still front of mind when we think of recent events that have had a negative impact on our collective mental health, the risks which climate change poses to the Cayman Islands are more insidious, are impacting the public’s health, and are increasing the risks we face from natural disasters,” explains Dr. Nick Gent, Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability (MHES). “It is imperative that we understand the risks that climate change brings to our environment and our mental health so that we are fully aware of what’s at stake.”

Cayman’s continued vulnerability to climate change has been well documented, most recently in the 2022 Climate Change Risk Assessment, with the increased risk of major hurricanes and heatwaves, coastal erosion, sea level rise, droughts and flooding, that damage critical infrastructure – including healthcare systems - and impact on our marine and terrestrial ecosystems, upon which many livelihoods depend.

The public health risks associated with climate change in the Cayman Islands mirrors what is being observed at the regional level, such as increased vector-borne disease like dengue, food insecurity and malnutrition due to extreme weather events, waterborne diseases from floods, and respiratory and cardiovascular issues especially among children and those with pre-existing conditions linked to poor air quality and extreme heat.

“So, when we look at the broader picture, the impact of the climate crisis on our mental health is happening both directly and indirectly,” explains Fiona McDougall, Chair of the Mental Health Commission.  “Direct impact refers to the psychological distress, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression that often occurs before, during and after extreme weather events.  The indirect impact refers to the psychological distress caused by not only the disruption of economic stability or food security, but also the anxiety which can accompany the very awareness of the climate crisis and the uncertainty of the future.”

While awareness of the climate crisis can contribute to anxiety, disaster preparedness education and training efforts can help to mitigate the negative impacts that both the threat of and experiences with natural disasters can have on an individual’s mental health.   Disaster preparedness activities help to promote a sense of control which serves to reduce anxiety, build resilience and bolster the individual’s and community’s ability to cope with stress, grief and trauma.  Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) and the Cayman Islands Red Cross (CIRC) have done significant work in this area, via initiatives such as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Resilience Initiative for Schools and Educators (RISE).

“In the midst of a disaster, mental health support is not optional—it’s what helps people find their footing when everything else feels uncertain,” states Dani Coleman, Director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI). “It offers comfort, strength, and the first steps toward healing. HMCI is committed to ensuring that mental health care is part of every stage of disaster preparedness and response, this includes supporting initiatives such as the Mental Health Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) training which is run by the CIRC.  Resilience is not just about rebuilding homes and roads—it’s about helping people recover emotionally and feel whole again.

The CIRC’s RISE project directly contributes to increasing Cayman’s societal resilience by empowering the next generation of primary school children to be better prepared and more resilient in the face of extreme and recurrent man-made and natural disasters.

“The RISE project works on many different levels,” explains Jondo Obi, Director of the CIRC. “We know that, during those early education and primary years,  children bring home what they learn at school making them agents of change within their homes.  We have also seen how children and youth have been powerful actors in mobilising for climate action, as this is an issue that matters deeply to them.  RISE’s resilience curriculum aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to cope with various challenges, including natural disasters and health crises. By doing this, we are empowering children as change agents both at home and within the community as our programme strives to create a safe and supportive environment that promotes emotional well-being and helps students navigate and recover from stressful situations successfully.”

“On World Mental Health Day, we pause to recognise how essential our environment is to our physical and mental well-being. Engaging in simple activities like watching a sunset, walking on the beach, or inhaling the clean, fresh air while enjoying our beautiful, deep blue sea reminds us of this vital connection, and it’s one we must actively nurture together,” states Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister of Health, Environment and Sustainability. “I’m committed to improving access to mental health care and implementing preventative strategies that truly support our community. This means expanding community-based services, such as mental health nursing. Together, we can build a resilient approach to mental health that acknowledges the deep connection between a healthy environment and our overall well-being.”

“The Climate Change Policy (CCP) 2024-2050 contains strategies to reduce health risks exacerbated by a warming planet and empower communities to withstand climate-related health emergencies, including better access to mental health services,” adds Tamara Ebanks, Chief Officer for MHES. “Our Ministry has also been working on finalising the National Health Strategy and Plan for the Cayman Islands, which will serve as a roadmap for how we address matters relating to health and well-being holistically over the next decade. While the health team had already engaged a wide number of stakeholders, including those in environment and sustainability, the grouping of health, environment and sustainability under a single ministry allows us the opportunity to ensure that there is increased collaboration and a transdisciplinary approach in how we work to mitigate these threats and enhance our national resilience.”