The Latin American-Caribbean Centre (LACC) of The UWI held its inaugural regional dialogue on the impact of climate change on mental health on August 23, 2023. This virtual forum, part of the global project ‘Connecting Climate Minds’, brought together researchers, experts, and stakeholders from across Latin America and the Caribbean to address the link between climate change and mental health.

The initiative has created a global research community that includes experts from seven regions worldwide. The discussions aim to align visions and foster collaboration on research at the intersection of climate change and mental health. Key contributors include Imperial College London, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, and The University of the West Indies, represented by Dr. Sandeep Maharaj, Dr. Natalie Greaves, and Ambassador Gillian Bristol, the Project Lead.

Ambassador Bristol emphasised that climate change and mental health are significant global challenges. She noted that despite growing attention to the mental health impacts of the climate crisis, the field remains fragmented, underscoring the need for a unified research agenda to develop effective policies for affected communities.