From fragmented risk communication to climate-mental health resilience: A syndemic preparedness framework for climate change, mental health and health misinformation

¹Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, ²Thaddeus Chijioke Asogwa and ³Adaora Jane Amaechi

¹Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

²Department of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, Enugu State University College of Medicine, Enugu, Nigeria

³Department of Internal Medicine, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

Correspondence: Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. Email: ikechukwu.obi@unn.edu.ng. Phone: +2348037275514

ABSTRACT

Climate change is no longer only an environmental emergency; it is becoming a community mental health and information-integrity crisis. Extreme heat, floods, droughts, wildfires, displacement, food insecurity and livelihood loss are increasingly linked with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, suicide risk and climate-related distress. At the same time, health misinformation and climate misinformation weaken public trust, delay protective behaviour and reduce acceptance of preparedness messages. We argue that these three forces should be treated as a syndemic: climate hazards intensify psychological vulnerability, psychological distress increases susceptibility to fear-based misinformation, and misinformation undermines collective action before, during and after climate-related emergencies. Current public health systems often respond to these domains separately through climate adaptation plans, mental health services or risk communication units. That separation is no longer sufficient. We propose a community resilience and public health preparedness framework that integrates climate-health surveillance, psychosocial risk mapping, infodemic management, trusted local messengers, primary-care mental health support, social protection, youth engagement and digital accountability. The goal is not only to reduce exposure to climate hazards, but to protect trust, mental wellbeing and community agency in a destabilising information environment.

Keywords: climate change; mental health; misinformation; infodemic; community resilience; public health preparedness; syndemic; risk communication.

CITE AS: Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, Thaddeus Chijioke Asogwa and Adaora Jane Amaechi (2026). From fragmented risk communication to climate-mental health resilience: A syndemic preparedness framework for climate change, mental health and health misinformation. IAA Journal of Biological Sciences 14(1):142-147. https://doi.org/10.59298/IAAJB/2026/141142147