Overview
Background
Associate Professor Fiona Charlson holds dual appointments as an Associate Professor at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) and as a Principal Research Fellow at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR). She is internationally recognised for her expertise in mental health, with a particular focus on the impacts of climate change on vulnerable and conflict-affected populations. Her research explores the psychological effects of environmental change, including climate anxiety and resilience, especially in regions such as the Pacific Islands. She leads several major initiatives, including the Connecting Climate Minds project (funded by the Wellcome Trust) and an ARC Discovery Project examining how families respond to climate anxiety. A/Prof Charlson is a trusted advisor to Australian and international stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, United Nations Development Program, US National Institutes of Health, and numerous government and non-government organizations. Her work spans systems modelling, epidemiology, and policy analysis, and aims to support policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities with the knowledge and tools they need to adapt to the changing climate and support the mental health and well-being of individuals and communities.
In addition to her research, she is a dedicated educator and mentor, coordinating postgraduate courses and supervising PhD students in global mental health and public health. Her work is driven by a commitment to equity, collaboration, and innovation, bridging the fields of mental health and planetary health.
Availability
- Dr Fiona Charlson is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Research interests
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Mental Health and Climate Change
Associate Professor Fiona Charlson’s research applies interdisciplinary and systems-based approaches to examine the mental health impacts of climate change. Her work integrates a range of methods, including psychiatric epidemiology, system dynamics modelling, and policy analysis, to investigate climate-related psychological phenomena such as anxiety, ecological grief, and resilience. She leads several funded projects aimed at generating actionable evidence for global mental health policy and service reform within planetary health frameworks.
Works
Search Professor Fiona Charlson’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Other Outputs
Standing tall for women’s mental health and wellbeing
Creamer, Sandra, Lansbury, Nina, Hirvonen, Tanja and Charlson, Fiona (2025, 10 23). Standing tall for women’s mental health and wellbeing Croakey Health Media
2025
Journal Article
Conceptualizing Young People's Experiences of Climate Change Awareness: A Narrative Review
Watson, Daniella, Hogg, Teaghan, Crandon, Tara, Vercammen, Ans, Watfern, Chloe, Aruta, John Jamir Benzon, Charlson, Fiona and Lawrance, Emma Louise (2025). Conceptualizing Young People's Experiences of Climate Change Awareness: A Narrative Review. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences nyas.70114. doi: 10.1111/nyas.70114
2024
Conference Publication
Theorising climate anxiety: a sociology of emotions perspective
McKenzie, Jordan, Olson, Rebecca, Charlson, Fiona, Patulny, Roger, Holmes, Mary and Hernandez, Andreas (2024). Theorising climate anxiety: a sociology of emotions perspective. TASA 2024: Living Now: Social Worlds and Political Landscapes, Perth, WA, Australia, 26-29 November 2024. Perth, WA, Australia: The Australian Sociological Association.
2024
Journal Article
Coping with climate anxiety: impacts on functioning in Australian adolescents
Crandon, Tara J., Scott, James G., Charlson, Fiona J. and Thomas, Hannah J. (2024). Coping with climate anxiety: impacts on functioning in Australian adolescents. Australian Psychologist, 59 (6), 541-552. doi: 10.1080/00050067.2024.2404987
2024
Book Chapter
Climate change and global mental health
Charlson, Fiona, Patrick, Rebecca and Dey, Cybele (2024). Climate change and global mental health. Climate Change and Global Health: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Effects. (pp. 324-341) Wallingford, United Kingdom: CABI International. doi: 10.1079/9781800620025.0026
2024
Journal Article
Suicide deaths associated with climate change-induced heat anomalies in Australia: a time series regression analysis
Hertzog, Lucas, Charlson, Fiona, Tschakert, Petra, Morgan, Geoffrey G, Norman, Richard, Pereira, Gavin and Hanigan, Ivan C (2024). Suicide deaths associated with climate change-induced heat anomalies in Australia: a time series regression analysis. BMJ Mental Health, 27 (1) e301131, 1-8. doi: 10.1136/bmjment-2024-301131
2024
Journal Article
A theoretical model of climate anxiety and coping
Crandon, Tara J., Scott, James G., Charlson, Fiona J. and Thomas, Hannah J. (2024). A theoretical model of climate anxiety and coping. Discover Psychology, 4 (1) 94. doi: 10.1007/s44202-024-00212-8
2024
Other Outputs
Oceania research and action agenda
Ali, Suhailah, Vercammen, Ans, Pizzino, Stacey, Tiatia-Siau, Jemaima, Patrick, Rebecca, Sarnyai, Zoltán, Panazzolo, Jessie and Charlson, Fiona (2024). Oceania research and action agenda. London, United Kingdom: Connecting Climate Minds.
2024
Journal Article
Keeping sane in a changing climate: assessing psychologists’ preparedness, exposure to climate-health impacts, willingness to act on climate change, and barriers to effective action
Stilita, Gabriela and Charlson, Fiona (2024). Keeping sane in a changing climate: assessing psychologists’ preparedness, exposure to climate-health impacts, willingness to act on climate change, and barriers to effective action. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21 (2) 218, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21020218
2023
Journal Article
Using a systems thinking approach to explore the complex relationships between schizophrenia and premature mortality
Ali, Suhailah, Wright, Eryn and Charlson, Fiona (2023). Using a systems thinking approach to explore the complex relationships between schizophrenia and premature mortality. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 70 (1) 00207640231194477, 207640231194477-79. doi: 10.1177/00207640231194477
2023
Journal Article
Transforming mental health systems globally: principles and policy recommendations
Patel, Vikram, Saxena, Shekhar, Lund, Crick, Kohrt, Brandon, Kieling, Christian, Sunkel, Charlene, Kola, Lola, Chang, Odille, Charlson, Fiona, O'Neill, Kathryn and Herrman, Helen (2023). Transforming mental health systems globally: principles and policy recommendations. The Lancet, 402 (10402), 656-666. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00918-2
2023
Journal Article
Three reasons why expecting ‘recovery’ in the context of the mental health impacts of climate change is problematic
Longman, Jo, Patrick, Rebecca, Bernays, Sarah and Charlson, Fiona (2023). Three reasons why expecting ‘recovery’ in the context of the mental health impacts of climate change is problematic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (10) 5882, 1-5. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20105882
2023
Journal Article
Schizophrenia as a risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes: a comparative risk assessment
Ali, S., Santomauro, D., Ferrari, A. J and Charlson, F. (2023). Schizophrenia as a risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes: a comparative risk assessment. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 32 e8, 1-8. doi: 10.1017/s2045796023000045
2022
Journal Article
The clinical implications of climate change for mental health
Crandon, Tara J., Dey, Cybele, Scott, James G., Thomas, Hannah J., Ali, Suhailah and Charlson, Fiona J. (2022). The clinical implications of climate change for mental health. Nature Human Behaviour, 6 (11), 1474-1481. doi: 10.1038/s41562-022-01477-6
2022
Journal Article
The 2022 report of the MJA – Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australia unprepared and paying the price
Beggs, Paul J, Zhang, Ying, McGushin, Alice, Trueck, Stefan, Linnenluecke, Martina K, Bambrick, Hilary, Capon, Anthony G, Vardoulakis, Sotiris, Green, Donna, Malik, Arunima, Jay, Ollie, Heenan, Maddie, Hanigan, Ivan C, Friel, Sharon, Stevenson, Mark, Johnston, Fay H, McMichael, Celia, Charlson, Fiona, Woodward, Alistair J and Romanello, Marina B (2022). The 2022 report of the MJA – Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australia unprepared and paying the price. Medical Journal of Australia, 217 (9), 439-458. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51742
2022
Journal Article
Quantitative methods for climate change and mental health research: current trends and future directions
Massazza, Alessandro, Teyton, Anaïs, Charlson, Fiona, Benmarhnia, Tarik and Augustinavicius, Jura L. (2022). Quantitative methods for climate change and mental health research: current trends and future directions. The Lancet Planetary Health, 6 (7), e613-e627. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00120-6
2022
Journal Article
Opportunities for the use of brief scalable psychological interventions to support mental health and wellbeing in the context of the climate crisis
Massazza, Alessandro, Eaton, Julian, Elshazly, Mohamed, Charlson, Fiona and Augustinavicius, Jura (2022). Opportunities for the use of brief scalable psychological interventions to support mental health and wellbeing in the context of the climate crisis. Intervention, 20 (1), 128-135. doi: 10.4103/intv.intv_30_21
2022
Journal Article
Excess mortality in severe mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-regression
Ali, Suhailah, Santomauro, Damian, Ferrari, Alize J. and Charlson, Fiona (2022). Excess mortality in severe mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-regression. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 149, 97-105. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.02.036
2022
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national burden of 12 mental disorders in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Ferrari, Alize J., Santomauro, Damian F., Herrera, Ana M. Mantilla, Shadid, Jamileh, Ashbaugh, Charlie, Erskine, Holly E., Charlson, Fiona J., Degenhardt, Louisa, Scott, James G., McGrath, John J., Allebeck, Peter, Benjet, Corina, Breitborde, Nicholas J. K., Brugha, Traolach, Dai, Xiaochen, Dandona, Lalit, Dandona, Rakhi, Fischer, Florian, Haagsma, Juanita A., Maria Haro, Josep, Kieling, Christian, Knudsen, Ann Kristin Skrindo, Kumar, G. Anil, Leung, Janni, Majeed, Azeem, Mitchell, Philip B., Moitra, Modhurima, Mokdad, Ali H., Molokhia, Mariam ... Whiteford, Harvey A. (2022). Global, regional, and national burden of 12 mental disorders in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Psychiatry, 9 (2), 137-150. doi: 10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00395-3
2022
Journal Article
A social–ecological perspective on climate anxiety in children and adolescents
Crandon, Tara J., Scott, James G., Charlson, Fiona J. and Thomas, Hannah J. (2022). A social–ecological perspective on climate anxiety in children and adolescents. Nature Climate Change, 12 (2), 123-131. doi: 10.1038/s41558-021-01251-y
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Fiona Charlson is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Mental health and climate change
If you are considering studying a PhD in Queensland and you want your research to have social impact, then we would like you to join us at the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR).
As a PhD student with ISSR, you will join a team of experienced researchers who want to make a difference. At ISSR we deliver high quality research to inform policy and practice and improve the life outcomes of communities and families. We have a depth of expertise and supervisory experience across research areas in public health, criminology, psychology, education, sociology, social research, and applied statistics.
As a PhD student with us, you will be part of an engaged, diverse, and welcoming HDR community that organises regular writing groups, social outings, wellbeing activities such as coffee, cake and conversation (3Cs), walking groups, lively lunchtime sessions, and much more.
Our PhD students are an important part of the Institute, and you will be able to attend regular ISSR capability building sessions, seminars, short courses and the ISSR conference, with plenty of opportunities to share your work.
ISSR is based at the beautiful, leafy, riverside Long Pocket campus at Indooroopilly with plenty of free parking and a free bus connection to the main campus at St Lucia, just 7 minutes away. You will have a light, spacious, modern and attractive workspace at Long Pocket and feel part of our inclusive ISSR work group.
If you would like to know more, we encourage you to reach to potential supervisors directly. For general inquires about the HDR program at UQ, please contact Lindsay Muller at hdr.issr@enquire.uq.edu.au.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Beyond Recovery: Developing A Decision Making Framework For State and Provincial Level Governments To Design And Deliver Mental Health and Wellbeing Services That Promote Resilence and Foster Growth To Communites Impacted By Climate Risk Disasters
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kristiana Ludlow
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Doctor Philosophy
Mental health stigma in refugee and migrant communities: co-designing a mental health promotion framework
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Exploring links between social determinants of mental health, the impact of a climate driven flood event, and mental health outcomes.
Principal Advisor
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the contribution of psychosis and bipolar disorder to premature mortality
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Harvey Whiteford, Dr Alize Ferrari, Associate Professor Damian Santomauro
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Weathering the Storm: How Young People Respond to and Cope With Climate Change
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Scott, Dr Hannah Thomas
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Fiona Charlson directly for media enquiries about:
- climate change
- mental health
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: