Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change: Considerations for Nurse Practitioners

Climate change is the most critical public health crisis of the 21st century. Physical and medical sequelae of climate and weather-related events are well documented and may be addressed in clinical practice. Mental health impacts of climate change are increasingly addressed in the literature but remain underrecognized by clinicians. This report focuses on mental health impacts of climate change through the theoretical framework of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. It offers a broad overview of mental health impacts, particularly for vulnerable populations, and introduces screening, assessment, and treatment considerations for the nurse practitioner.