Our lands, our minds: Research and action agenda on Indigenous mental health in a changing climate

The research and action agenda is designed to focus future efforts to help those who are experiencing, or will experience, the compounding mental health challenges of climate change. It aims to support those who are already responding to these challenges – through communities, research, policy and practice – by building a more connected and collaborative climate change and mental health field. It also aims to empower experts across disciplines and sectors to join and make progress in this area by identifying clear priorities and fostering a more inclusive and transdisciplinary field.

The study concludes that to foster right relations with the environment and promote healing for both people and land, it is imperative for researchers, policymakers and practitioners to adopt frames that align with Indigenous worldviews. Research, policies, programmes and practices that acknowledge and support the importance of cultural practices and dynamic transmission – two-way communication and feedback between Indigenous worldviews and Western biomedicine that helps find common ground – can contribute to building and maintaining positive connections between Indigenous communities and their environment. This approach not only promotes mental health but also contributes to the overall wellbeing of both people and the planet.