Climate Change, Migration, Urbanization, and the Mental Health of Children at Risk in the European Union

Abstract. Psychologists face a growing mental health challenge, calling for innovative large-scale interventions. World population growth and industrialization are causing climate change, forcing families to migrate into rapidly expanding cities, and suffer in refugee camps. European in-country migration from rural villages adds to urban growth. This rapid shift in adaptation between uprooted families and their new environments tends to increase the risk of family system disorganization, poor child attachment, and child abandonment. The paper presents demographic data and projections concerning the effects of urban life on childbirth frequency, marital constancy, how early in life children are cared for outside the home, and the placement of children in Alternative Care. European Federation of Psychologist’s Association initiatives addresses new questions. How can research recommendations be applied in cross-professional interventions? Can e-learning open new channels for dissemination? The author presents how a European Union Lifelong Learning grant project in 10 member countries later developed into the Fairstart Foundation’s partnerships with world NGOs and government agencies. Five hundred twelve partner staff in 26 countries have been educated in 6-month online classrooms and trained the foster parents and group home staff of some 40,000 children in attachment-based care. Lessons learned for interventions are discussed, to inspire further developments.