THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA

This executive summary, authored by clinical psychologist Garret Barnwell for the Centre for Environmental Rights, outlines the psychological and mental health risks associated with climate change in South Africa. It specifically highlights the risks posed to children, future generations, and coal-affected communities resulting from the decision to develop new coal capacity.

• Climate change in South Africa leads to various psychopathologies, including depression, anxiety, suicide, interpersonal violence, increased hospitalisation, and decreased work productivity. These effects stem from direct exposures such as natural disasters, as well as vicarious experiences, anticipated future harms, and accumulative trauma over a lifespan.
• South Africans are especially vulnerable to the mental health impacts of climate change due to historical factors, poverty, and other socio-economic conditions. The document asserts that climate change can exacerbate historical injustices and that the same social conditions increasing vulnerability to climate change also increase the risk of psychological adversity and mental illness.
• Children and future generations face significant psychological harms, including fears for the future and feelings of hopelessness, sadness, or helplessness. These mental health challenges can negatively impact their emotional wellbeing and concentration at school, potentially leading to destructive outward behavior or internalised distress.
• The decision by the government to develop new coal capacity and fail to adequately avert the mental health impacts of climate change is described as contributing to secondary trauma and a sense of institutional betrayal. The report notes that greenhouse gas-emitting energy sources have detrimental neurocognitive, mental, and physical consequences.

APA

Barnwell, G. (n.d.). THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA. Centre for Environmental Rights. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Climate-Mental-Health-Summary-Final.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Barnwell, Garret. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA. Centre for Environmental Rights, n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Climate-Mental-Health-Summary-Final.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Barnwell |first1=Garret |title=THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA |publisher=Centre for Environmental Rights |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Climate-Mental-Health-Summary-Final.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{barnwellndpsychological, author = {Barnwell, Garret}, title = {{THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Climate-Mental-Health-Summary-Final.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }