Researchers Warn: Extreme Weather Events Threaten Children’s Mental Health and Brain Development

Scientists are sounding the alarm about how climate disasters could be hiding serious childhood traumas. These disasters can change how kids develop and lead to mental health issues if we don’t act fast.

Researchers from Australia and Nepal highlight the risks that extreme weather events pose to kids, creating something called “toxic stress.” This stress can come from things like family separation, poverty, and being uprooted from homes. Their findings are in the journal Communications Medicine.

Though research is still emerging, studies like the Generation R study link extreme temperatures to problems with brain development. These extreme events can disrupt children’s stability and sense of security, which can lead to serious issues like PTSD, anxiety, and chronic physical conditions.

From 1990 to 2023, there were about 364 extreme climate events each year. These incidents affected around 400 million people and displaced about 26 million of them. Kids in low- and middle-income countries often suffer the most because they have fewer resources to cope.

Traditionally, we think of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as issues like abuse or neglect at home. However, environmental factors like extreme weather are starting to be recognized too. These environmental traumas, or E-ACEs, are significant threats to children’s mental and physical health. They stem from direct exposure to disasters and the ripple effects that follow, like family disruption and loss of livelihood.

For instance, studies are now showing how repeated exposure to extreme weather can alter brain structure and connectivity. These changes can mirror the effects of traditional ACEs, highlighting the urgent need for interventions that specifically address climate-related challenges.

What can we do to help? Strengthening resilience is key. Resilience isn’t just about individual coping skills, but also involves community support. Families with strong ties and supportive systems help children better handle the stress brought on by climate events.

Programs that provide mental health care, economic support, and educational resources are essential. Schools can play a role by teaching trauma-informed practices and climate education. Successful programs, like India’s NIMHANS model, show that community-based support can effectively integrate mental health and local resources.

However, many initiatives remain short-term and lack sufficient funding. The authors stress that building long-lasting systems to tackle climate-related stressors is crucial, especially in poorer countries.

As climate events continue to rise, the warning is clear: without action, these can disrupt brain development and stress regulation in our children, leading to long-term mental and physical health issues. Communities and families with strong social networks tend to show more resilience, underscoring the importance of investing in community support and intervention strategies.

Addressing these environmental stressors needs a coordinated approach. It requires effort from local, national, and global levels, with wealthier nations aiding those most vulnerable. While the findings bring attention to the emerging crisis of E-ACEs, they also offer a pathway towards a more resilient future for children everywhere.

SOURCE: Thapa, S., Giri, S., Ross, A.G. “Extreme weather and climate-related adverse childhood experiences are a humanitarian crisis during the 21st century.” Communications Medicine (2025).

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Children, Mental Health, Anxiety, Brain, Chronic, Climate Change, Depression, Education, Frequency, Inflammation, Malnutrition, Medicine, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Poverty, Research, Stress, Trauma