An exploration of climate change-induced anxiety and depression in vulnerable populations in Pakistan

Climate-induced disasters in Pakistan have been found to have a significant impact on the mental health of individuals due to economic insecurity, gender-based violence and abuse. The alarming situation of the country calls for an in-depth analysis of mental health impacts of climate change with a strong focus on vulnerable populations. This study synthesizes existing literature by performing a systematic literature review on climate-change-induced anxiety and depression in Pakistan. The study consolidated findings from 22 research articles from Scopus and PubMed, ranging from 2015 to 2025 by utilizing the PRISMA model. The findings of this review reveal anxiety, depression and PTSD as the most common psychological disorders associated with climate-induced disasters. Moreover, the review finds that women and children are the most vulnerable to climate change due to socioeconomic and cultural factors. It was found that internal displacement due to climate-induced disasters leads to major psychological disorders, such as PTSD, anxiety and depression. Anxiety, depression and PTSD are the most common psychological impacts of climate-induced disasters, where women and children aged 10-20 are more at risk. Limited availability of resources in rural areas of Pakistan and lack of infrastructure also led to the prevalence of mental health disorders.