This month marks the launch of Climate Prescription, a new series from the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health.

Written by Dr. Leah B. Topper, a family medicine physician and Climate & Health Science Policy Fellow at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the series translates the latest research on climate-driven health risks into practical insights for employers, HR leaders, and workplace health professionals.

“I can’t stop thinking about climate change, and it keeps me up at night. Is that normal?”

“Every season feels harder with long hours in extreme heat, breathing in dust and smoke. I’m worried about what it’s doing to my body and my mind.” 

These quotes, paraphrased from things I’ve heard from patients, capture a reality that is often unspoken: Climate change is not only a threat to our physical environment and physical health, but also our mental health — especially for those in vulnerable industries. 

A Look at the Research

A recent systematic review by two researchers in Singapore examined how climate change impacts workers’ mental health in the agriculture, aquaculture, construction, and aviation sectors. Analyzing 42 studies, the review found trends of increased depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and even suicidality linked to climate-related stressors such as rising temperatures and prolonged droughts. 

Climate stressors affect workers socioeconomically and may also erode one's sense of control, identity, and connection to community. The research corroborates previous findings that people whose incomes are tied to the natural environment — such as fishing, farming, or tourism workers — face greater risk of climate-related mental health impacts.  

Global research is being borne out closer to home, with U.S. workers reporting similar impacts. In partnership with Northwind Climate, the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health surveyed a nationally representative sample of workers to understand how employees view their employers' efforts to protect them amid growing climate risks. The survey found that 15% of workers said climate change had caused or intensified their mental health challenges in the past year. One in three said they wished their employer offered mental health support to address climate-related stress, suggesting that employees anticipate these impacts becoming worse.

In the Clinic and the Workplace

As a family medicine doctor, I see this intersection of climate and mental health in my patients. In the clinic, I screen for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidality. I refer people to therapy and prescribe medications to support their mental well-being. I also write letters to employers to advocate for accommodations through FMLA and other programs. But many of the solutions lie outside the exam room. 

So what can business leaders do?

• Build community support networks and encourage social connections: Isolation worsens mental health outcomes, while belonging and strong community connections can be protective.
• Promote mental health literacy: Increased awareness and access to mental health services are essential. Offer insurance plans that include coverage for mental health care. ‍
• Encourage employer accountability: Safe working conditions must become standard. Create policies to protect workers from unsafe working conditions, including extreme heat and poor air quality.
• Support adaptability: From worker training to infrastructure changes, workplaces must adapt to climate stressors and teach their employees how to do so as well. 

As researchers around the world continue to explore the mental health impacts of climate change, there are many ways to take meaningful action, and we each have a role to play — whether in the clinic like myself or in the workplace like you. 

Additional Resources

• National University of Singapore | A Systematic Review on the Impact of Climate Change on Occupational Mental Health: A Focus on Vulnerable Industries‍
• National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health | Protecting Mental Health Amid Climate Challenges‍
• American Psychological Association | Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Implications, and Guidance ‍
• Climate Mental Health Network | Resources

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The National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health is a group of business, health, and climate leaders who share a mission to protect workers from the health risks posed by extreme weather.

The Commission was created by the Health Action Alliance in partnership with Mercer and with strategic input from the CDC Foundation. Additional support for the initiative is being provided by Elevance Health and The Hartford. Learn more at ClimateHealthCommission.org.

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