Abstract:
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) as being the most vulnerable region to climate change impacts. A major concern is the
increase in extreme weather events (EWE) such as storms, floods, droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, and
landslides in SSA and their potential to a ect the health and well-being of children and adolescents.
The objective of this systematic review is to examine the direct and indirect impacts of EWE on the
mental health of children and adolescents living in SSA, in order to inform protective adaptation
strategies and promote resilience. A meta-analysis will not be possible, since the assumption is
that limited studies have been published on the EWE-associated mental health impacts on children
and adolescents living in SSA and that those studies that are available are heterogenous. There is
acknowledgement in the global literature of the need to highlight child and adolescent mental health
more prominently in climate change health strategies and policies. It is vital that adaptation strategies
are informed by research on risk prevention and promotion of resilience to ensure the mental health
of children and adolescents is protected.
