On October 29th, 2024, the groundbreaking COST Action 23113: Climate Change Impacts on Mental Health in Europe (CliMent) launched with a dynamic kick-off meeting at the COST Association headquarters in Brussels. This initiative places Sigmund Freud Private University (SFU) at the forefront of crucial European research collaboration.

The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) is an EU-funded, intergovernmental framework with currently 41 Members and 1 Cooperating Member. COST Actions unite researchers and experts across countries, fostering scientific innovation through networking activities, conferences, and knowledge exchange. Action 23113 assembles a powerhouse of internationally acclaimed scholars to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: the intersection of climate change and mental health in Europe.

CliMent’s mission is fourfold:

  • Unravel the complex relationship between climate change and mental health in Europe
  • Develop and enhance coping strategies for affected populations
  • Design and implement short-term behavioural interventions to catalyse societal action
  • Establish long-term frameworks to promote sustainability and resilience.

The first Management Committee Meeting set ambitious goals and benchmarks for the first year, laying the groundwork for groundbreaking research and interventions.

Priv. Doz. Paolo Raile, University Lecturer at SFU‘s Faculty of Psychotherapy Science, represents Austria in the Management Committee, solidifying SFU‘s role in this important European initiative.

As climate change emerges as a force majeure with unpredictable consequences, CliMent’s work promises to fill a crucial knowledge gap in impact assessment and treatment possibilities. This collaboration positions SFU at the cutting edge of research addressing one of the most significant challenges facing European mental health.

The SFU community eagerly anticipates the outcomes of this vital work and its potential to shape the future of mental health care in the face of global climate challenges.

Contact:

Priv. Doz. Dr. Dr. Paolo Raile
Faculty of Psychotherapy Science
Sigmund Freud Private University
Freudplatz 1, 1020 Vienna
paolo.raile@sfu.ac.at