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Paper short abstract

This study examines the overlooked health and psychological impacts of climate change in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Beyond material losses, communities experience anxiety, trauma, disrupted mourning, and cultural loss highlighting the need to address non-economic dimensions of climate change.

Paper long abstract

This study investigates the health impacts of climate change with a particular focus on psychological and intangible losses that are often overlooked in climate impact assessments. Using qualitative approach that combined literature review with country specific case studies in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, the study documented lived experiences from climate related loss and damage through in-depth interviews and key informant interviews. Findings reveal that, in addition to tangible losses such as housing, livelihoods, infrastructure, and food, affected communities experience significant non-economic losses, including the destruction of cultural significance sites, disruption of social services, and profound psychological distress. Fear of recurrent disasters has contributed to widespread anxiety depression and symptoms of post-traumatic stress, particularly among individuals who have lost family members and property. One of the most profound challenges is the inability to properly mourn lost family members. For those whose relatives’ bodies were never recovered, the absence of graves has prevented them from conducting traditional death and burial rituals, which are crucial for achieving closure. Additionally, some survivors have suffered permanent disabilities, further compounding their losses by limiting their ability to work and sustain themselves. The study also highlights cultural barriers to discussing death and grief with children, further compounding emotional distress. Ultimately, these experiences underscore the psychosocial toll of climate-related disasters, particularly the trauma caused by different types of loss, including death.