EnvironMental Health: A Framework for an Emerging Field at the Intersection of the Environment and Mental Health Crises

Abstract

Understanding how the environment shapes our mental and cognitive health is imperative to support efforts that promote healthy and sustainable living conditions. The etiology of mental health conditions remains often unclear, and social factors have received more scrutiny than natural or built environments. We present a conceptual framework illustrating the emerging intersection between the environment and neuropsychological health, intended to structure and guide research and funding, as well as public health and environmental initiatives. We conducted a scoping review of reviews of existing evidence on the impacts of the environment on mental and cognitive health. We found that an extensive body of work was focused on chemical hazards and the built environment and their associations with neurological and mental health, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, dementia, and mood. We identified emerging areas of research intersecting environmental factors such as air, water, light, and green space with schizophrenia and behavioral health. Our analysis of the intersections between the environment and mental and cognitive health allows for the identification of knowledge clusters and gaps, contextualizing needs and opportunities for future research and funding strategies. These significant connections showcase the importance of understanding the relationships between the environment and mental and cognitive health. With this work, we assert that the protection of the environment and its integration into healthcare can bring cascading benefits and synergies to mental and cognitive health and well-being and address the social and economic burden of the mental health crises.