Climate change has become one of the most significant global public health threats of the twenty-first century, with profound implications for physical and mental health. Increasing temperatures, extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, air pollution, droughts, floods, wildfires, and climate-related displacement have contributed to a growing burden of psychological distress across populations. Mental health consequences associated with climate change include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders, suicidal behavior, eco-anxiety, grief, and psychological trauma. Vulnerable populations, including children, older adults, individuals with pre-existing mental illnesses, indigenous communities, low-income populations, and climate refugees, are disproportionately affected. Mental health nurses occupy a pivotal role in addressing these emerging challenges through prevention, early identification, crisis intervention, psychosocial support, health education, disaster preparedness, community resilience building, and advocacy for climate-sensitive mental healthcare. This article reviews the relationship between climate change and mental health, examines the psychological consequences of climate-related events, and discusses the expanding responsibilities of mental health nurses in responding to climate-related psychiatric needs. It further highlights strategies for integrating climate-informed care into mental health nursing practice through interdisciplinary collaboration, policy development, education, and research. Strengthening the capacity of mental health nurses to respond to climate-related mental health challenges is essential for promoting psychological resilience, reducing health inequalities, and ensuring sustainable, person-centered mental healthcare in an era of accelerating environmental change.

Keywords: Climate change, mental health, mental health nursing, eco-anxiety, disaster psychiatry, psychological resilience, climate resilience, environmental health, psychiatric nursing, public health