King's College London

King’s College London is one of nine partners in the project, led by Thrive LDN, which seeks to help communities create local climate solutions, develop policies that combine mental health and climate action, and build infrastructure for ongoing efforts and lasting impact.

Funding will particularly support ways to bring new voices from different communities, especially those experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage, into conversations about climate change and mental health.

Addressing a dual crisis

Across the partnership, the London Mental Health and Climate Coalition will be engaging with London’s communities on daily challenges that negatively impact mental health, such as financial pressures and limited access to green spaces, and demonstrate practical solutions that can improve people’s wellbeing while benefiting the climate.

At King’s, researchers in the Centre for Mental Health Policy & Evaluation at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience will draw on their expertise in rigorous scientific evaluation methods and research into how climate and environmental stressors affect population mental health. They will work with communities, partners and policy experts to create a framework for evaluating and implementing all project activities.

Experts from the Policy Institute at King’s will draw on their prior success of using Policy Labs to influence policy. They will lead a Policy Lab to bridge the gap between mental health knowledge, including lived and community experience, and climate change policy. Through a co-designed workshop, King’s experts will connect London communities with policymakers, resulting in implementable policy actions.

Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, said: “It is great news that London is to get a £1.5m National Lottery boost for climate action and mental wellbeing. Congratulations to Thrive LDN and partners who have secured this funding through an exciting coalition that will help London’s communities better understand how climate policy and issues are linked to social, economic and racial justice. I’m excited to support the initiatives that will happen through this partnership as we work across City Hall to deliver a fairer, greener London.”

Professor Kevin Fenton CBE, Regional Public Health Director for London, said: “Many Londoners are understandably concerned about the health of our planet and their own mental wellbeing. This exciting project offers a hopeful path forward, showing how positive climate action can bring immediate, tangible benefits to our public health.

“By focusing on communities most affected by health inequalities and the climate crisis, this project will ensure we are working together to help to create a fairer, more resilient city for everyone. I am delighted to support the work of this vital coalition to improve the health of both Londoners and our city.”

The project will be delivered through a new partnership between Thrive LDN, King’s College London, Black Thrive Global, Clean Slate Training & Employment, Climate Outreach, Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow Mind, LIVING PROOF, London Arts and Health and Stanley Arts.

It will build on the approach taken by Thrive LDN's Climate and Mental Health Action Partnership, which includes a regional network of more than 200 people working to address the interconnected challenges of climate and mental health.

The grant comes from the Climate Action Fund, a £100 million, 10-year commitment from The National Lottery Community Fund.

It also follows a £7 million investment in 2024 for King’s College London and Thrive LDN to conduct population mental health research as part of a national Population Health Improvement UK (PHI-UK) research network.