info@businessghana.com
Heatwaves, droughts, cyclones and severe flooding are no longer rare events in Africa - they are becoming the new normal. Africa’s megacities are among the locations with the most rapidly worsening air pollution, which is projected to grow. Across the continent, catastrophic weather-related events are not only destroying communities and disrupting livelihoods and businesses, but they are also inflicting a hidden, often overlooked toll: the mental health of those affected.
These were the stark warnings from a recent International SOS webinar where health experts highlighted the growing evidence linking extreme weather events to rising mental health challenges, outlining strategies organisations can adopt to protect their employees and operations.
According to the World Meteorological Organisation, extreme weather, climate and water-related hazards have caused more than US$4.3 trillion in economic losses, and the frequency of these events is rising. Scientific interest in how natural disasters affect mental health has also significantly increased globally. Maria Gomez Mojica, Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultant at International SOS, notes, “Published literature on this topic has increased by more than 210% between 2016 and 2023, demonstrating how fast this study is evolving.”
Studies indicate extreme heat can cause impaired brain function and increase overall negative stress, which can lead to inflammation in the body and increase the likelihood of various non-communicable conditions. It can also worsen pre-existing mental health symptoms. This compounds the strain on African healthcare systems, which already face the world’s highest mental health treatment gap.
“Heat doesn’t only affect the body. It affects the mind, influences medication stability, sleep quality, emotional regulation and can worsen pre-existing conditions,” said Mojica. “Moreover, we are seeing this across multiple continents, age groups and cultures.”
Extreme weather is also a growing business risk. Africa’s workforce is particularly vulnerable: farmers and agricultural workers - who make up 65-70% of the continent’s labour force - rely on predictable weather. Floods, droughts and heatwaves devastate crops, disrupt livelihoods and trigger both financial losses and food insecurity. The mental and emotional toll is felt by employees and employers alike.
Other high-risk groups include emergency responders, healthcare professionals, and construction or industrial workers exposed to extreme heat and poor air quality. When employees are overwhelmed, stressed, anxious or fatigued, productivity drops, safety incidents increase, and operational resilience is weakened. Unfortunately, most organisations are not well prepared. A live poll during the webinar, which saw 150 attendees, revealed that only a few organisations (12%) have fully embedded mental health response plans for extreme weather conditions.
“Many organisations still treat climate events as a structural or operational risk,” said Dr Anthony Renshaw, Regional Medical Director at International SOS. “To better manage operations during such circumstances, managers need to start recognising that climate change is also a workforce wellbeing issue.”
To tackle this, organisations can adopt a “Before, During and After” preparedness model:
With natural hazards intensifying across Africa, the mental health impact will only continue to grow. Organisations across the continent, especially those in sectors such as agriculture, mining, healthcare, construction and public safety, cannot rely on reactive approaches – they need proactive strategies.
“Natural hazards are no longer just operational crises. They are human crises, and protecting mental wellbeing will be essential to safeguarding workforce resilience, productivity and national development,” concluded Dr Renshaw.
