Bangladesh is ranked as the 7th most climate-vulnerable nation, according to the Global Risk Index 2021 (Global Climate Risk Index, 2021, 2023). It is a low-lying country in South Asia, and is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change due to its geographical location and socio-economic conditions (Kabir & Khan, 2017). As the impact of climate change intensifies, the people of Bangladesh are experiencing a growing physical and mental health crisis (Akhter etal., 2015).

The escalating frequency of cyclone, flood, drought, and heat wave etc., due to climate change poses a direct threat to public health, resulting in heightened risks of heat-related mortality and morbidity (Islam & Rashid, 1970). Moreover, these natural disasters lead to loss of lives, displacement, destruction of homes and infrastructure, and disruption of livelihoods (Paul et al., 2011). These traumatic events leave lasting psychological impacts on the affected communities, leading to increased anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health disorders (Alam et al., 2021). 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) acknowledged the significance of health impacts, arising from escalating climate change, in its Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) from 2014 (Palinkas et al., 2020). The recently published Sixth Assessment Report also addressed the physical and mental health risks induced by climate change (IPCC, 2023). The report specifically highlighted the mental health risks faced by vulnerable populations, including women, and emphasized the need for further research and attention to mental health consequences in susceptible communities.

Following natural disasters, a report from the American Public Health Association reveals that up to 54% of adults and 45% of children experience depression (Tasdik et al., 2020). Researchers from the University of Cambridge 2022 found that extreme weather and climate events canexacerbate gender-based violence due to factors such as economic shock, social instability, enabling environments, and stress (Hasan et. al., 2021). In 2018, a study published in the journal Nature predicted that warmer temperatures could result in up to 40,000 additional suicides in the United States and Mexico by 2050 (Sri et. al., 2023). These evidences underscores the importance of addressing mental health issues, particularly in the context of climate change and its potential impacts on communities, which are much more extensive in vulnerable nations like Bangladesh. Yet, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, only nine countries of 95 countries surveyed, have incorporated mental health and sychosocial support into their national health and climate change plans (WHO, 2017).

Wahid et. al., 2023, found a significant association between climate-related stressors and the burden of mental health issues, particularly depression and anxiety, in Bangladesh. In the study, further revealed that biological components of common mental disorders might be connected with increased temperatures, a growing risk in Bangladesh. The study also revealed the extent of the psychological impact on survivors of Cyclone Sidr, and it was found that 25 percent of the survivors had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 18 percent had major depressive disorders, 16 percent experienced somatoform disorders, and 15 percent had mixed anxiety and depressive disorders (Dankelman, 2008, Paul, 2009)