What happens when the trauma of an extreme weather event continues long after the disaster itself?
Prof Collins Iwuji, lead of the WEMA study, was recently featured on Health Beat, a health-focused programme on eNCA, South Africa’s 24-hour news channel, to discuss what the research is revealing about the mental-health impacts of extreme weather across South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique and Burkina Faso.
From fear and anxiety to the lasting effects of disrupted homes, livelihoods and communities, experiences shared through the WEMA study highlight the often-overlooked psychological impacts of climate-related disasters.
The research raises an important question: what does recovery look like when the trauma doesn’t end with the disaster?
Understanding these experiences is critical to strengthening how we prepare for, respond to and recover from extreme weather events, including recognising mental health as an important part of climate resilience.
Watch the full eNCA Health Beat episode below to hear Prof Iwuji unpack the research findings and what they could mean for communities facing a changing climate.
