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The Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) Zambia is urging the government to broaden its approach to climate change by incorporating mental health considerations into its climate policies.
In a statement released on Friday in Lusaka, REPSSI Country Director, Mirriam Mwiinga, stated the need for the government to include mental health elements in the upcoming National Budget, set to be presented on September 27, 2024.
Mwiinga highlighted that climate change posed significant risks to the mental health and well-being of Zambia’s most vulnerable populations, including children, young people, women, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly.
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She noted the severe impacts of drought on agriculture, leading to food shortages, small business failures, and prolonged electricity load shedding.
The psychological effects on families, particularly on children whose education, safety and stability are disrupted, are profound and concerning, according to Mwiinga.
She acknowledged the government’s progress in addressing climate change but stressed the absence of a comprehensive framework that integrates mental health into climate mitigation strategies.
The current budget allocations often overlook mental health programs, leaving the population unprepared for the psychological impacts of climate-related disasters.
Mwiinga called on the government to implement the Mental Health Act, integrate mental health into climate policies, prioritize vulnerable groups, and increase funding for mental health services.
She argued that addressing mental health alongside environmental challenges would enhance national resilience.
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