Combining research and community action to support people with mental illness in tackling climate change

Since the CarbonCare InnoLab’s Paris Watch Programme was launched, six community dialogues have been held so far. The first five dialogues were focused on the residents of subdivided housing, the welfare and the community health care sectors, outdoor workers, and persons with disabilities. This dialogue focuses on people with mental illness who are facing the impacts of extreme weather. Experts participating in this community dialogue shared with their peers the threat extreme weather poses to people with mental illness, reviewed current measures and services, and identified their needs.

Climate change can easily induce mental health problems, all of which are supported by scientific data, but Hong Kong society generally lacks understanding of the relationship between both. At the same time, people with mental illness lack simple and easy-to-understand guidance in their daily lives, and lack relevant technology to receive information on climate disasters, leaving them without proper support. This community dialogue explores related issues.