Exploring how climate change affects mental health in East Africa and creating early warning systems for vulnerable communities.
Official title: Investigating pathways between climate and mental health and wellbeing and development and testing of localized, impact-based early warning systems for climate vulnerable communities in East Africa
Funded at Columbia Univ New York Morningside · NIH-10982427 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how extreme weather caused by climate change affects the mental health of people in East Africa, especially vulnerable groups like women, and aims to create tools to help these communities cope better with these challenges.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia Univ New York Morningside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2024 |
| Project end | March 13, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $275,863 |
| NIH project number | 1P20TW012808-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10982427 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in East African communities that are particularly affected by climate change, especially women and those in ecologically sensitive areas.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not living in climate-vulnerable areas or those not experiencing mental health issues related to climate change may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of climate change-related extreme weather events on mental health and well-being in East Africa, particularly focusing on vulnerable communities. It aims to understand the psychological effects of climate change, such as increased despair and suicidal thoughts, especially among women and those in ecologically sensitive areas. The study will also develop localized early warning systems to help these communities prepare for and respond to climate-related challenges, potentially improving their mental health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide critical insights and tools to enhance mental health support and resilience in climate-vulnerable communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that early warning systems can effectively improve community preparedness and reduce the impact of climate-related disasters, suggesting a promising approach for this study.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia Univ New York Morningside
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Winter, Samantha C. — Columbia Univ New York Morningside
- Study coordinator: Winter, Samantha C.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.