Climate change and Indigenous mental health in the Circumpolar North: A systematic review to inform clinical practice

Abstract

Climate change is disproportionally impacting the Circumpolar North, with particular impacts among Indigenous populations. Environmental changes are felt in many aspects of daily life of Northern communities, including both physical and mental health. Thus, health institutions from around the Arctic must meet emerging needs, while the phenomenon remains marginal to their southern counterparts. In this systematic review, we aimed to review current scientific knowledge on the mental health impacts of climate change in Indigenous Peoples across the Circumpolar North. Seven databases were searched. Original peer-reviewed research articles were included if they addressed links between climate change and mental health in Arctic or Subarctic Indigenous Populations. After extraction, data were synthesized using thematic analysis. Of the 26 articles that met inclusion criteria, 16 focused on Canadian Inuit communities and 21 were exclusively qualitative. Being on the land was identified as a central determinant of wellbeing. Immediate impacts of climate change on mental health were felt through restricted mobility and disrupted livelihoods. Effects on mental health were further felt through changes in culture and identity, food insecurity, interpersonal stress and conflicts, and housing problems. Various ways in how communities and individuals are coping with these effects were reported. Understanding climate-related pathways of mental health risks in the Arctic is crucial to better identify vulnerable groups and to foster resilience. Clinicians can play a role in recognizing and providing support for patients affected by these disruptions. Policies sensitive to the climate–mental health relationship must be advocated for.

Measuring Impact of Climate Change on Indigenous Health in the Background of Multiple Disadvantages: A Scoping Review for Equitable Public Health Policy Formulation

“…In an earlier review conducted only three studies reported being conceived, designed, or conducted in partnership with Indigenous communities or informed by Indigenous pieces of knowledge and values. (Lebel et al, 2022 ) In our study, we found that in eleven studies there was an involvement of indigenous peoples in the climate mitigation and adaptation process.…”

“…Impacts of climate change on mental health happen due to restricted mobility and disrupted livelihoods and are further accentuated through changes in culture and identity, food insecurity, interpersonal stress and conflicts, and housing problems. (Lebel et al, 2022 ). In the Inuit community in northern Canada which has deep cultural connections with sea ice, the changing ice and weather conditions have been reported to result in anxiety-related episodes ( ACIA 2005 , 2022 ; Prowse & Furgal, 2009 ).…”

“…Hence, finally, twenty-nine publications remained eligible for inclusion. Out of these 29 articles, five articles were incorporating qualitative research (Bryson et al, 2021 ; Keatts et al, 2021 ; Kowalczewski & Klein, 2018 ; Rautela & Karki, 2015 ; Westoby et al, 2020 ), two articles incorporated Mixed Method Research (Chatwood et al, 2017 ; Durkalec et al, 2015 ); case studies, time series, community-based project and symposium report were one piece each(Amstislavski et al, 2013 ; Galway et al, 2022 ; Huber et al, 2020b ; Rahman & Alam, 2016 ); Seven review articles (1 systematic review, 2 Scoping Review, 4 narrative review) (Ellwanger et al, 2020 ; Galway et al, 2019 ; Jones et al, 2020 ; Lansbury Hall & Crosby, 2022 ; Lebel et al, 2022 ; Schramm et al, 2020 ; Standen et al, 2022 ); 6 commentaries (Hernandez et al, 2022 ; Leal Filho et al, 2021 ; Lewis et al, 2020 ; Redvers et al, 2022 ; Richards et al, 2019 ; Zavaleta-Cortijo et al, 2020 ); 4 perspectives (Callaghan et al, 2020 ; Houde et al, 2022 ; Redvers et al, 2020 ; Timler & Sandy, 2020 ) and 1 editorial was included in the final analysis. (Pollock & Cunsolo, 2019 ) We did not find any meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, cohort, or case–control studies.…”

“…The studies examined a diverse set of both direct and indirect adverse effects of climate change on indigenous health worldwide. Out of these articles, most of them concentrated on physical health; five articles emphasized mental and psychosocial aspects of health (Galway et al, 2019 ; Huber et al, 2020b ; Kowalczewski & Klein, 2018 ; Lebel et al, 2022 ; Standen et al, 2022 ); One article had discussed majorly on the access to health care system (Amstislavski et al, 2013 ); and another one discussed in detail about Health stewardship for indigenous peoples. (Chatwood et al, 2017 ) A few articles also discussed adaptive measures against climate change undertaken by various tribes and some community-based projects on climate-ready tribe initiatives.…”

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and mental illness: Mechanisms linking mood, metabolism and medicines

“…In addition to dwindling resources resulting in food insecurity, the ecological impacts brought about by climate change can have a negative effect on mental health and spirituality. This has been noted particularly in indigenous communities, where an increased prevalence of mental health disorders coincident with climate change has been attributed to the concept of ecological grief ( Middleton et al, 2020 ; Lebel et al, 2022 ). Consistent with the correlative pattern and potential mechanistic overlap between the two conditions, NAFLD prevalence in an indigenous population was far higher than the global rate (44 vs. 32%, respectively), and indigenous communities were identified as one of the groups with the steepest increases in rates of NAFLD-related mortality over the past 10 years ( Cheah et al, 2013 ; Paik et al, 2019 ; Riazi et al, 2022 ).…”