By Henry Neondo
Floods, droughts and extreme heat are emerging as significant threats to mental health in West Africa, with women, low-income communities and people whose livelihoods depend on agriculture facing some of the greatest risks, a new systematic review has found.
The review by a Nwanaji-Enwerem J. C. – led team of researchers, and published on 10 September 2026 in the Journal of Public Health in Africa, examined available peer-reviewed evidence on the relationship between climate-related extreme weather and mental health in the region. The researchers identified 2,968 articles, but only 13 studies met their inclusion criteria.
The studies were conducted in only four West African countries — Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone — highlighting what the researchers describe as substantial evidence gaps across the region.
Floods linked to anxiety, depression and psychological distress
Flooding was the most frequently studied climate-related hazard. Research from Ghana and Nigeria associated flood exposure with psychological distress, anxiety, depression, trauma and chronic stress.
In Ghana, one study involving 767 adults found a significant association between flood exposure and psychological distress, with stronger associations among women and younger adults. Another analysis using the same sample found that perceptions of flood-related health risks mediated part of the relationship between flood stressors and mental distress.
In Lagos, Nigeria, emotional and psychological stress was reported as a significant consequence of flooding, with prevalence ranging from 48% to 82% across different settlements.
The burden was particularly pronounced among women living in low-income neighbourhoods. Research reviewed by the authors found that these women experienced greater illness, displacement, asset losses, anxiety and stress than women in higher-income areas. Limited financial resources, weak social networks and lack of assistance also made recovery more difficult.
Drought can produce prolonged distress
Unlike floods, which can generate sudden psychological trauma, drought can create a prolonged cycle of uncertainty through declining agricultural production, livestock losses, food insecurity and declining household income.
A study of livestock farmers in Ghana found that approximately 60% had poor mental health, with 72% reporting depression, 66% anxiety and 59% stress according to the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21. Mental well-being declined as farmers experienced more adverse events and greater livestock losses.
Another Ghanaian study used the term “solastalgia” to describe the distress experienced by people witnessing long-term environmental deterioration in places they call home. Drying water sources, failing agriculture and deforestation were associated with sadness, helplessness and a loss of social connections.
For farmers in Ghana and Burkina Faso, ecological losses went beyond income. The review found evidence of ecological grief associated with the loss of livelihoods, indigenous seeds and genetic resources, and traditional ecological knowledge.
Extreme heat creates additional risks for women
The review also identified mental health consequences associated with extreme heat.
Research from Burkina Faso involving pregnant and postpartum women found that extreme heat affected women’s mental well-being and daily functioning. Mothers reported anxiety linked to their babies’ discomfort, while heat also contributed to social isolation, family tensions and reduced productivity.
The economic consequences were significant: some women avoided physically demanding work during periods of extreme heat, contributing to reduced household income. The study also identified gaps in awareness of heat-related health risks among both communities and healthcare professionals.
Climate shocks amplify existing inequalities
The review suggests that climate-related mental health impacts cannot be understood separately from poverty, gender roles, food insecurity, housing conditions and access to social support.
Women may face additional psychological pressures because of responsibilities for children, older people and sick family members during disasters. Meanwhile, people with fewer financial resources have less ability to relocate, rebuild homes, replace possessions or access healthcare after climate-related disasters.
The researchers also point to indirect pathways between climate events and mental health. Extreme weather can destroy crops and livestock, undermine household income, increase food insecurity and worsen physical health — all of which can compound psychological distress.
In Northern Ghana, for example, flooding was associated not only with damaged homes and crops but also with economic hardship, migration and reports of early child marriage as families sought financial relief.
Researchers call for stronger evidence and climate-health policies
The review authors say the limited number of studies is itself a major concern.
Of the 2,968 articles initially identified, just 13 met the review’s criteria. Eight of those studies were conducted in Ghana, two in Nigeria, two in Burkina Faso and one in Sierra Leone. Seven were qualitative, four quantitative and two used mixed methods.
The researchers therefore call for larger studies, research in more West African countries and greater inclusion of populations such as children, who were excluded from this review because it focused on adults aged 18 and above.
They also argue that climate adaptation and disaster preparedness should incorporate mental health rather than treating psychological consequences as a secondary issue.
Among the potential interventions identified are stronger mental health services, targeted social programmes for women and vulnerable groups, improved climate-health education, better urban planning and drainage, stronger enforcement of environmental impact assessments and psychological support for disaster victims.
The authors also highlight the potential value of regional cooperation, noting that climate and mental health challenges cross national borders and could benefit from collaborative approaches involving regional institutions such as ECOWAS.
A warning for Africa’s climate-vulnerable communities
The findings add a critical mental health dimension to the climate crisis in Africa. The consequences of extreme weather are not limited to damaged infrastructure, lost crops or displacement; they can also affect people’s sense of security, livelihoods, social relationships and emotional well-being.
The review concludes that continued investment in mental health clinical capacity, alongside climate-health research and prevention, will be essential to address existing gaps. It stresses that understanding who is most vulnerable — and why — will be critical for developing effective responses as climate-related extreme weather events intensify.
neondohenry@yahoo.com