Fiona Charlson

Associate Professor Fiona Charlson holds dual appointments as an Associate Professor at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) and as a Principal Research Fellow at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR). She is internationally recognised for her expertise in mental health, with a particular focus on the impacts of climate change on vulnerable and conflict-affected populations. Her research explores the psychological effects of environmental change, including climate anxiety and resilience, especially in regions such as the Pacific Islands. She leads several major initiatives, including the Connecting Climate Minds project (funded by the Wellcome Trust) and an ARC Discovery Project examining how families respond to climate anxiety. A/Prof Charlson is a trusted advisor to Australian and international stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, United Nations Development Program, US National Institutes of Health, and numerous government and non-government organizations. Her work spans systems modelling, epidemiology, and policy analysis, and aims to support policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities with the knowledge and tools they need to adapt to the changing climate and support the mental health and well-being of individuals and communities. In addition to her research, she is a dedicated educator and mentor, coordinating postgraduate courses and supervising PhD students in global mental health and public health. Her work is driven by a commitment to equity, collaboration, and innovation, bridging the fields of mental health and planetary health. Mental Health and Climate Change

[2026] Culturally-informed strategies to address the differential impacts of climate change-related changing environmental conditions on mental health in regional Australia [2026] Mental health and climate change policy in Australia: A scoping review [2026] Coping with climate change: correlates of adaptive and maladaptive coping in young people [2026] Daytime and nighttime heatwave intensity and acute care utilization for mental and neurological disorders in California [2025] Conceptualizing young people's experiences of climate change awareness: a narrative review [2025] Concern about the health effects of climate change according to experiences of climate events: international comparison of UK and Australian adults [2025] Research on climate change and mental health in immigrants is urg