Zambia - Climate Change and Mental Health Outcomes among Migrant Fisherfolk in Zambia
Lynn Murphy Michalopoulos, PhD, UM School of Social Work
Nicole Mattocks, PhD, MSW, Research Assistant Professor, UMB School of Social Work
Elias Snyder, MS, FNP-C, Director, Office of Global Health, UMB School of Nursing
Charlotte Nwogwugwu, DrPH, Assistant Professor, UM School of Nursing
James Chinene, HIV AIDS Technical Support Foundation, Zambia
Ravi Paul, MD, MBBS, Head, Department of Psychiatry, University Teaching Hospital Lusaka, Zambia
In low- and middle-income countries large gaps exist between the needs of people with mental health problems and the services available. Simultaneously, climate change is having stronger and longer-lasting impacts. However, the relationship between climate change and mental health is still nascent in the field. This project responds to a call to action for more research testing the conceptual pathways of climate change and mental health specifically among migrant fisherfolk in Zambia (i.e., fish traders and fisherman). Fisherfolk may experience mental health problems related to climate change, as they are exposed to environmental and occupational risk factors such as floods, droughts, and scarcity of fish. This three-stage project aims to a) understand concepts and policies related to climate change and mental health b) understand the relationship between climate change and mental health among fisherfolk in Zambia and c) develop and evaluate a community-based intervention based on identified issues.