Supporting Adolescent Mental Health in Humanitarian Settings : To What Extent do Interventions Consider Climate Change and Its Intersectional Impacts?

Research suggests that adolescents in humanitarian settings are particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges, but there is less attention to how mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in these settings considers climate-related factors. This article aims to bridge this gap by reviewing studies on the impact of MHPSS interventions in humanitarian settings for adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. Our findings indicate there is a lack of attention to climate change; none of the 25 studies identified mentioned climate change or considered it in the intervention design. Given the urgency of the climate crisis, it is vital that MHPSS interventions for adolescents in humanitarian settings are adapted to respond to climate change-related factors. We also found that the data from such studies are rarely disaggregated by sex or disability. This is vital in order to deepen our understanding of the intersectional impacts of MHPSS on adolescents. 

Key implications for practice

• There is a lack of attention to climate change in recent mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions in low- and middle-income countries.

• MHPSS interventions for adolescents in humanitarian settings generally have small but positive impacts on adolescents’ mental health; however, further research with control groups and randomisation is needed to confirm these impacts.

• Data should be disaggregated by sex and disability status to fully understand the differential effects of MHPSS interventions on adolescents, and ensure that no one is left behind.