Mental health impacts of climate-related hazards among farmers: evidence from a community-based study

This study aimed to examine the associations between climate-related hazard exposure and mental health outcomes among farmers in southern Thailand, a region heavily affected by climate disasters, including floods, droughts, and storms. Climate-related hazards are intensifying worldwide, posing escalating risks to not only agricultural productivity but also mental health. Farmers in low- and middle-income countries are particularly vulnerable, yet the psychological impacts of climate disasters on these populations remain underexplored.

Depression was significantly more prevalent among farmers in high-exposure areas than among those in low-exposure areas. Increased flooding frequency in the previous years was strongly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Conversely, farmers in low-exposure areas reported significantly higher engagement in institutional supports, including community resource management, financial compensation, and adoption of drought-resistant seeds whereas farmers in high-exposure areas largely relied on self-directed coping.