Publications
19 results found
Xue S, Massazza A, Akhter-Kahn S, et al., 2024, Mental health and psychosocial interventions in the context of climate change: a scoping review, npj Mental Health Research, Vol: 3, ISSN: 2731-4251
The evidence on the impacts of climate change on mental health and wellbeing is growing rapidly. The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of existing mental health and psychosocial interventions aimed at addressing the mental health and psychosocial impacts of climate change. A scoping review methodology was followed. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to May 2022. Comprehensive gray literature search, including expert consultation, was conducted to identify interventions for which peer-reviewed academic literature may not yet be available. Data on intervention type, setting, climate stressor, mental health outcome, evaluation, and any other available details were extracted, and results were summarized narratively. Academic literature search identified 16 records and gray literature search identified a further 24 records. Altogether, 37 unique interventions or packages of interventions were identified. The interventions act at the levels of microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem through diverse mechanisms. While most interventions have not been formally evaluated, promising preliminary results support interventions in low- and middle-income-country settings disproportionately affected by climate disasters. Interventions from multidisciplinary fields are emerging to reduce psychological distress and enhance mental health and wellbeing in the context of climate change. This scoping review details existing evidence on the interventions and summarizes intervention gaps and lessons learned to inform continued intervention development and scale-up interventions.
Croasdale K, Grailey K, Jennings N, et al., 2023, Planning for the perfect storm: perceptions of UK mental health professionals on the increasing impacts of climate change on their service users, The Journal of Climate Change and Health, Vol: 13, Pages: 1-11, ISSN: 2667-2782
IntroductionClimate change poses a considerable risk of further increasing the world's mental health burden. The ways that, and extent to which, climate change is affecting mental health service users is poorly known. Mental health professionals (MHP)s' views on the nature of climate-related distress and the need for specialist training to support service users is undetermined globally.MethodsA questionnaire survey was disseminated to an opportunity sample of MHPs based in the United Kingdom (UK). It investigated whether MHPs perceived that the number of service users mentioning climate change as affecting their mental health or emotional distress had increased in the five years prior to 2021, and if they believe it will increase further. The survey explored MHPs’ perceptions of the influence of climate change on service users’ mental health needs, if they perceive this to be rational, and if they feel adequately prepared to manage climate change related mental health problems or emotional distress.ResultsWe surveyed 75 MHPs, including professionals in psychotherapy (38), psychology (19), psychiatry (6). MHPs reported a significant increase in the perceived prevalence of mental health problems or emotional distress related to climate change, believing this increase will continue. MHPs reported a range of impacts on service users due to climate change, typically viewed as a rational response. MHPs felt equipped to manage the consequences of climate change but would benefit from specific training.ConclusionsOur results indicate an increasing incidence of climate-related emotional distress among service users as perceived by MHPs. The expectation among professionals is that this service need is here now but will continue to increase in the future, with potential implications for the provision of training.
Alford J, Massazza A, Jennings NR, et al., 2023, Developing global recommendations for action on climate change and mental health across sectors: a Delphi-style study, The Journal of Climate Change and Health, Vol: 12, Pages: 1-11, ISSN: 2667-2782
Climate change is causing far-reaching yet underappreciated worsening of outcomes across the mental health and wellbeing spectrum. Despite increasing attention to the mental health impacts of climate change, an absence of a clear, cross-sectoral agenda for action has held back progress against the dual and interconnected challenges of supporting human and planetary health. This study aims to serve as an essential first step to address this gap. Harnessing the expertise of a diverse panel of 61 participants, representing 24 nationalities, this study developed and prioritized recommendations for action on climate change and mental health across the relevant sectors of research, policy, healthcare and the third sector, and used a Delphi-style methodology to examine their feasibility and importance. Broadly, the prioritized recommendations highlighted the need to expand the evidence base, work collaboratively across sectors, and raise awareness. While broadly there was consensus on recommendation importance, there was greater variation in the reported feasibility of the recommendations, which differed across settings. Other common themes included the need for cultural and resource contextualization, raising awareness of and addressing mental health co-benefits via climate action, and working with communities with lived experience to develop and implement the findings. As there may be some interdependencies between the recommendations, further work needs to identify how best to implement them. The recommendations serve as a robust and evidence-based framework that can be used as a foundation to devise locally appropriate, concrete implementation strategies matching levels of need and resource. These also serve as a clear call to action for investment from leaders across sectors to ensure they are realized.
Lawrance E, Thompson R, Roberts L, et al., 2023, Ambient temperature and mental health: a systematic review and meta analysis, The Lancet Planetary Health, Vol: 7, Pages: e580-e589, ISSN: 2542-5196
BackgroundIncreasing evidence indicates that ambient outdoor temperature could affect mental health, which is especially concerning in the context of climate change. We aimed to comprehensively analyse the current evidence regarding the associations between ambient temperature and mental health outcomes.MethodsWe did a systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence regarding associations between ambient outdoor temperature and changes in mental health outcomes. We searched WebOfScience, Embase, PsychINFO, and PubMed for articles published from database origin up to April 7, 2022. Eligible articles were epidemiological, observational studies in humans of all ages, which evaluated real-world responses to ambient outdoor temperature, and had mental health as a documented outcome; studies of manipulated or controlled temperature or those with only physical health outcomes were excluded. All eligible studies were synthesised qualitatively. If three or more studies reported the same or equivalent effect statistics and if they had equivalent exposure, outcome, and metrics, the studies were pooled in a random-effects meta-analysis. The risk of bias for individual studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The quality of evidence across studies was assessed using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) approach.Findings114 studies were included in the systematic review, of which 19 were suitable for meta-analysis. Three meta-analyses were conducted for suicide outcomes: a 1°C increase in mean monthly temperature was associated with an increase in incidence of 1·5% (95% CI 0·8–2·2, p<0·001; n=1 563 109, seven effects pooled from three studies); a 1°C increase in mean daily temperature was associated with an increase in incidence of 1·7% (0·3–3·0, p=0·014; n=113 523, five effects pooled from five studies); and a 1°C increase in mean monthly temperature was associa
Pavarini G, Reardon T, Hollowell A, et al., 2023, Online peer support training to promote adolescents' emotional support skills, mental health and agency during COVID-19: Randomised controlled trial and qualitative evaluation, EUROPEAN CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY, Vol: 32, Pages: 1119-1130, ISSN: 1018-8827
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- Citations: 9
Lawrance EL, Rao M, 2023, Why COP28 must be a health COP Global leadership appears not to recognise that the climate crisis is a public health crisis, write Emma L Lawrance and Mala Rao, BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, Vol: 380, ISSN: 0959-535X
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- Citations: 1
Pirkle L, 2022, Current Understanding of the Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health within UK Parliament, Frontiers in Public Health Planetary Health, ISSN: 2296-2565
Roberts L, Lounsbury O, Awuzudike V, et al., 2022, Healthy environments: Understanding perceptions of underrepresented communities in the United Kingdom, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol: 19, Pages: 1-21, ISSN: 1660-4601
A healthy environment has been defined by global health organisations as one that is safe, supportive of healthy lifestyles, and free of hazards. Such definitions disregard the complexity of what it means for an environment to be perceived as ‘healthy’—such as the mental, not just physical, health effects on citizens. This study aimed to understand the attributes that underrepresented groups of the United Kingdom (UK) public assign to healthy environments—an important step for directing public policy and actions to create environments that are inclusive of all citizens. This co-created study involved 95 participants from underrepresented communities in 10 separate focus groups, each facilitated by a community member. Thematic analyses highlighted five key attributes of a healthy environment: sounds and sights, accessibility, safety, familiarity and mental health and wellbeing. This study draws a picture of key attributes underrepresented groups of the UK public assign to healthy environments that is richer than that drawn by existing definitions. These findings illustrate the importance of hearing diverse voices when directing research, policy, and actions that attempt to develop healthy environments for all.
Lawrance E, Jennings N, Kioupi V, et al., 2022, Young person's psychological responses, mental health, and sense of agency for the dual challenges of climate change and a global pandemic in the UK: an online survey study, The Lancet Planetary Health, ISSN: 2542-5196
Lawrance EL, Thompson R, Newberry Le Vay J, et al., 2022, The Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence, and its Implications, INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF PSYCHIATRY, Vol: 34, Pages: 443-498, ISSN: 0954-0261
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- Citations: 19
Li C, Lawrance EL, Morgan G, et al., 2022, The role of mental health professionals in the climate crisis: an urgent call to action, INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF PSYCHIATRY, Vol: 34, Pages: 563-570, ISSN: 0954-0261
Dewa LH, Roberts L, Lawrance E, et al., 2022, Authors' reply to: Toward a better understanding of quality social connections. Comment on "Quality social connection as an active ingredient in digital interventions for young people with depression and anxiety: systematic scoping review and meta-analysis", Journal of Medical Internet Research, Vol: 24, ISSN: 1438-8871
Lawrance EL, Gagne CR, OReilly JX, et al., 2022, The Computational and Neural Substrates of Ambiguity Avoidance in Anxiety, Computational Psychiatry, Vol: 6
Dewa L, Lawrance E, Roberts L, et al., 2021, Quality social connection as an active ingredient in digital interventions for young people with depression and anxiety: systematic scoping review and meta-analysis, Journal of Medical Internet Research, Vol: 23, Pages: 1-22, ISSN: 1438-8871
BackgroundDisrupted social connections may negatively impact youth mental health. In contrast, sustained quality social connections (QSC) can improve mental health outcomes. However, few studies have examined how these quality connections impact depression and anxiety outcomes within digital interventions, and conceptualisation is limited.ObjectiveThe study aim was to conceptualise, appraise and synthesise evidence on quality social connection within digital interventions (D-QSC) and the impact on depression and anxiety outcomes for young people (14-24).MethodsA systematic scoping review and meta-analysis was conducted using the Johanna Briggs Institute methodological frameworks and guided by experts with lived experience. Reporting was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Medline, Embase, PsycInfo and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases were searched against a comprehensive combination of key concepts on 24th June 2020. Search concepts included young people, digital intervention, depression/anxiety, and social connection. Google was also searched. One reviewer independently screened abstracts/titles and full-text and 10% were screened by a second reviewer. A narrative synthesis was used to structure findings on indicators of D-QSC and mechanisms that facilitate the connection. Indicators of D-QSC from included studies were synthesised to produce a conceptual framework. Results5715 publications were identified and 42 were included. Of these, there were 23,319 participants. Indicators that D-QSC was present varied and included relatedness, having a sense of belonging and connecting to similar people. However, despite the variation, most of the indicators were associated with improved outcomes for depression and anxiety. Negative interactions, loneliness and feeling ignored indicated D-QSC was not present. In ten applicable studies, a meta-an
Liu Z, Peach R, Lawrance E, et al., 2021, Listening to mental health crisis needs at scale: using Natural Language Processing to understand and evaluate a mental health crisis text messaging service, Frontiers in Digital Health, Vol: 3, Pages: 1-14, ISSN: 2673-253X
The current mental health crisis is a growing public health issue requiring a large-scale response that cannot be met with traditional services alone. Digital support tools are proliferating, yet most are not systematically evaluated, and we know little about their users and their needs. Shout is a free mental health text messaging service run by the charity Mental Health Innovations, which provides support for individuals in the UK experiencing mental or emotional distress and seeking help. Here we study a large data set of anonymised text message conversations and post-conversation surveys compiled through Shout. This data provides an opportunity to hear at scale from those experiencing distress; to better understand mental health needs for people not using traditional mental health services; and to evaluate the impact of a novel form of crisis support. We use natural language processing (NLP) to assess the adherence of volunteers to conversation techniques and formats, and to gain insight into demographic user groups and their behavioural expressions of distress. Our textual analyses achieve accurate classification of conversation stages (weighted accuracy = 88%), behaviours (1-hamming loss = 95%) and texter demographics (weighted accuracy = 96%), exemplifying how the application of NLP to frontline mental health data sets can aid with post-hoc analysis and evaluation of quality of service provision in digital mental health services.
Lawrance E, Thompson R, Fontana G, et al., 2021, The impact of climate change on mental health and emotional wellbeing: current evidence and implications for policy and practice
Roland J, Lawrance E, Insel T, et al., 2020, The digital mental health revolution: Transforming care through innovation and scale-up, Publisher: The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH)
The report reviews how to prepare and navigate innovations and their potential to address critical health needs.
Lawrance ELA, Harper NS, Cooke JE, et al., 2014, Temporal predictability enhances auditory detection, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol: 135, Pages: EL357-EL363, ISSN: 0001-4966
<jats:p>Periodic stimuli are common in natural environments and are ecologically relevant, for example, footsteps and vocalizations. This study reports a detectability enhancement for temporally cued, periodic sequences. Target noise bursts (embedded in background noise) arriving at the time points which followed on from an introductory, periodic “cue” sequence were more easily detected (by ∼1.5 dB SNR) than identical noise bursts which randomly deviated from the cued temporal pattern. Temporal predictability and corresponding neuronal “entrainment” have been widely theorized to underlie important processes in auditory scene analysis and to confer perceptual advantage. This is the first study in the auditory domain to clearly demonstrate a perceptual enhancement of temporally predictable, near-threshold stimuli.</jats:p>
Deslandes A, Shapter J, Lawrance E, et al., 2006, Preparation of Carbon Surfaces for Sensing Applications via Plasma Hydrogenation, 2006 International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Publisher: IEEE
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