Planetary health, sustainability and perinatal psychiatry
Pregnant women, birthing people, babies and young children are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of the climate crisis.
The effects of the climate emergency on this group include:
- , disproportionately affecting women, birthing people and children, due to more frequent extreme weather events such as floods, heatwaves and wildfires
- amongst people in the perinatal period
- climate issues such as air pollution contributing to negative health impacts for both pregnant people, birthing people and children (see resources below).
Conversely, the natural world is a potential source of great benefit to perinatal wellbeing, as exemplified in the ‘Nature-based interventions’ section below.
Health professionals are uniquely positioned to recognise and educate pregnant and nursing individuals on the physical and mental health implications of the climate crisis, and how to mitigate these. We can use our voices to highlight how climate actions will co-benefit perinatal physical and mental health, and to advocate for greener health care.
The Perinatal Faculty Workgroup on Planetary Health and Sustainability
This workgroup aims to raise awareness of the impact of the climate and ecological emergency on perinatal mental health and systemic health inequalities.
The workgroup collaborates to develop quality improvement and research projects within the Perinatal Faculty, and share examples of good practice. We are affiliated with the RCPsych Planetary Health and Sustainability Champion Network.
Workgroup members
- Katie Hall
- Rosa Roberts
- Sanne van Rhijn
Please email Sanne van Rhijn if you are interested in finding out more.
Presentations, symposiums and conferences
- ‘The Mother Nature Project: co-designing and piloting a nature-based intervention to promote postnatal mental health’ session delivered at the RCPsych Perinatal Faculty Trainee Conference, 2023 (Katie Hall)
- The preliminary results of the pilot study were presented at the Society for Academic Primary Care 2024 ASM (Katie Hall)
- ‘Climate and ecological emergency - what perinatal psychiatrists can do’: a workshop delivered at the Perinatal Annual Conference, 2023 (Amelia Cussans and Sanne van Rhijn)
- Webinar on climate change and perinatal mental health/ mental health in under 5’s (Sanne van Rhijn in collaboration with Mercer University, GA ,USA) 7.5.2025 NYC Early Childhood Mental Health - Training and Technical Assistance Center
Publications
- (Jennifer Barkin, Sanne van Rhijn et al 2025)
- See under ‘Nature based interventions’ for Katie Hall’s publications
- Read more about getting involved in your practice, your trust and in your community: Sustainability and mental health.
- : an online community of healthcare professionals committed to tackling the environmental impact of women's health. The network aims to foster collaboration between obstetricians, gynaecologists, midwives, sexual health practitioners, nurses, researchers, educators, and students to improve the sustainability of our specialty by sharing knowledge, ideas and examples of good practice.
- : an alliance of UK-based health organisations representing about 1 million health professionals. .
- Psych Declares is a group of UK activist psychiatrists who are trying to reach out internationally and coordinate collective action. To get involved, email Dr Kirsten Shukla.
The Mother Nature Project in Bristol
- . (Hall et al, 2024).
- . (Hall et al, 2024).
- . (Hall et al, 2023)
- . (Walker-Mao et al, 2024)
- . (Sands et al, 2023)
A perinatal gardening-based intervention in West London NHS Trust
Climate change and reproductive intentions
- (Hickman et al, 2021) This large and international survey found that 4 in 10 young people are hesitant to have children due to climate distress.
Air pollution exposure in pregnancy and birth and neurodevelopmental outcomes
- (Bekkar et al, 2020)
- (Fussel et al, 2023)
- (Johnson et al, 2021)
- (Giudice et al, 2021)
The impact of climate change on perinatal mental health
- (Barkin et al, 2022)
- (Pardon et al, 2024)
Other reading
- Parenting tip sheets by UNICEF:
- Losing Eden: Why Our Minds Need the Wild (Lucy Jones, 2021, published by Penguin). This book explores the deep connection between human wellbeing and nature. It examines how modern life, with its increasing urbanisation and disconnection from the natural world, negatively affects our mental health. The author weaves in her personal narrative of recovery from postnatal depression; through scientific literature, personal stories and cultural insights, the book makes a powerful case for the healing power of nature.
- by Dr Lynne Jones, starting at 43 minutes
- This module, which is based on the RCPsych Net Zero Mental Health Care: Guidance and Education, is for anyone delivering mental healthcare. It provides guidance on how to make tangible changes across service delivery and the mental healthcare pathway:
- The training module is an introductory 30-minutes session available freely to all NHS staff.
- This BMJ series offers tangible actions clinicians can take to reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare. Use this tool to find ideas for making your practice more environmentally friendly, from articles published in The BMJ: