A new study has revealed a disturbing link between climate change shocks and rising mental health issues among rural women in Kenya.
The research, led by experts from the Brain and Mind Institute in collaboration with Aga Khan University, found that droughts, heatwaves, and erratic rainfall are contributing to an alarming increase in depression and suicidal thoughts among women, especially those living in informal settlements without access to basic amenities.
The study analysed data collected between 2010 and 2024 in Kaloleni and Rabai sub-counties of Kilifi County. Over this period, Kilifi experienced repeated droughts, prolonged dry spells, extreme heat, and, most recently, devastating floods in 2024.
“We’ve always known that climate change affects livelihoods and food security,” said Dr. Cyprian M. Mostert, the lead researcher and Assistant Professor of Global Health Economics. “But what we’re now seeing is a mental health emergency quietly unfolding among the most vulnerable populations, especially women.”
The study surveyed 14,801 women from two types of households: informal, slum-like rural homes lacking running water and toilets, and more stable rural homes with basic services. The research focused on women due to their key role in family care and income generation, and because men were often unavailable during data collection.
Women in informal settings were found to be 10.8 percentage points more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms than those in better-equipped households. The ripple effects of poor mental health, researchers warn, stretch beyond individuals and threaten the social and economic stability of entire families.
“Many of these women are the breadwinners,” Dr. Mostert said. “When they are mentally unwell, the consequences are felt across the household. Children miss meals, farming is disrupted, and the family’s income suffers.”
According to the findings, reduced rainfall led to a 28.7% increase in suicidal thoughts; heatwaves contributed to a 14.9% rise in suicidal ideas; droughts were linked to a 36.7% increase in suicidal thoughts, and the combined pressure of drought and high food prices triggered a 48.3% rise in suicidal thoughts among women in informal settings.
“These numbers are not just data points,” Dr. Mostert said. “They represent real women suffering quietly, without access to psychological care, while carrying the full weight of climate and economic stress.”
In Kaloleni and Rabai, most residents depend on rain-fed subsistence agriculture. Yields are unreliable and contribute little to the local economy. Housing is substandard, clean water is scarce, and basic infrastructure, including schools and health clinics, is inadequate.
“Even before climate shocks, these communities are already stretched thin,” said Rachel Kazungu, a community health volunteer based in Kaloleni. “When the rains fail or food prices spike, the emotional toll is unbearable. We have seen women cry for hours because they have nothing to feed their children.”
The area’s challenges are compounded by high unemployment and the absence of mental health support systems.
Despite increasing coordination between Kenyan government agencies and international donors to address climate impacts, mental health has been largely missing from climate adaptation strategies.
“There is a glaring gap,” said Dr. Mostert. “In countries like India, we’re seeing models that combine food relief with mental health support after climate disasters. Kenya needs to adopt similar approaches.”
Currently, mental health services in rural areas like Kilifi are virtually nonexistent. Facilities are few, mental health professionals are scarce, and stigma remains high.
The researchers are calling for urgent integration of mental health services into climate response efforts. They recommend combining psychosocial support with the distribution of food, agricultural inputs, and cash transfers after climate-related shocks.
“Addressing the emotional and psychological distress caused by climate change is not a luxury. It is a necessity,” Dr. Mostert emphasized. “You cannot expect people to rebuild their lives if they are mentally broken.”
Experts also advocate for community-based interventions, including training local health workers to provide psychological first aid, establishing peer support groups for women, promoting mental health awareness to reduce stigma, and incorporating mental health education into existing climate and disaster risk reduction programs.
Long-term solutions, the researchers say, must focus on empowering women economically and socially to cope with future climate shocks.
“When women are mentally and emotionally healthy, they are better able to protect their families, manage resources, and bounce back after a crisis,” said Dr. Mostert.
He believes that by building climate resilience through a mental health lens, Kenya can create more sustainable, adaptive communities in the face of a worsening climate crisis.
“Our findings are a wake-up call,” Dr. Mostert concluded. “If we ignore the mental health toll of climate change, we risk leaving the most vulnerable even further behind.”
