Project background

This fully funded PhD offers an exciting opportunity to explore the relationship between climate change, mental health, and young people’s wellbeing through an innovative interdisciplinary project. Based at the University of Essex and working with international partners including People’s Palace Projects and Redes da Maré in Brazil, the student will investigate how community-led, place-based environmental initiatives can strengthen resilience and mental health among young people in deprived coastal communities in the UK and Brazil.

Join a ground-breaking project exploring how community-led climate action can boost young people’s mental health in coastal communities in the UK and Brazil. It builds on a growing body of evidence that climate anxiety—a form of psychological distress linked to concerns about climate change—has become a significant mental health challenge for young people worldwide. Young people living in coastal communities are disproportionately exposed to environmental stressors such as heat, flooding, and pollution, which heighten risks of anxiety, depression, and trauma-related symptoms. At the same time, adolescence and early adulthood represent a critical developmental period, making it an essential period to develop initiatives with the potential to not only mitigate harm but also build resilience and psychological wellbeing.

Evidence suggests that the most effective mental health support is embedded in local communities, where arts-based and participatory approaches can build resilience, connection, and a sense of belonging. Creative practices not only provide young people with meaningful ways to express themselves but also offer hopeful and empowering responses to challenges such as climate change. We will work with grassroots projects in Rio de Janeiro and Tendring, Essex to uncover how arts, creativity, and local leadership can transform mental health in the face of climate challenges. This is your chance to explore how young people can shape a stronger, more resilient future—together.

We are seeking applications from motivated and creative students with a passion for socially engaged research. This project will suit those with an interest in mental health, climate change, youth participation, and arts for social change. The project is being led by an interdisciplinary supervisory team spanning humanities, environmental science, social sciences and arts-based practice. Reflecting this breadth, the research will combine quantitative approaches with qualitative, arts-based, and participatory methods, working directly with young people in coastal communities to co-produce knowledge. The student will work closely with community partners and young people themselves, developing skills in co-production and applied research that can inform both academic debates and practical interventions. Applicants should demonstrate evidence of independent research skills, strong communication abilities, and a commitment to working collaboratively with diverse communities.