Local knowledge sought for climate change research project
Published: 24 November 2025
Academics at the University of Glasgow are launching an appeal to residents Ayr, Dumfries and Wick for their feedback on the impacts of climate change on communities and residents’ mental health as part of a new research project.
Academics at the University of Glasgow are launching an appeal to residents Ayr, Dumfries and Wick for their feedback on the impacts of climate change on communities and residents’ mental health as part of a new research project.
The project, led by PhD student Rhiannon Hawkins of the University’s School of Geographical & Earth Sciences, aims to help areas prone to flooding better defend their communities from increased incidences of rising water in the years ahead, as well as help safeguard their mental resilience. The project will also examine the effects of drought, a challenge communities will face more regularly.
People are being asked to use their knowledge of their local area to complete a 10-minute questionnaire that will be used to create community-sourced flood and drought maps that could help inform future decisions on mitigating the effects of flooding.
The project also aims to gather data on local people’s awareness of the effects of climate change and its effects on their mental health. Research has shown that people who experience flooding are six times more likely to develop depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Rhiannon said: "Public health authorities in Scotland have begun to recognise the negative physical and mental health impacts of climate change, with Public Health Scotland recognising flooding to have significant consequences on both mental and physical health and well-being. Nonetheless, academic research has highlighted considerable gaps in existing understandings of the mental and physical health impacts of flooding on people living in Scotland, particularly for vulnerable groups and communities, such as disabled individuals and communities located on active rivers.
“This project could have vital mental health benefits; for example, research has shown that undertaking community adaptation is vital in reducing negative mental health and well-being impacts of climatic extremes. Participating will help create flooding and drought resources which are relevant to the local community. The feedback we collect will help to aid flood preparation by indicating which streets are most likely to flood first, which could help with evacuation planning during floods. During droughts, it could help by showing where to collect bottled water supplies.”
The project is part of Rhiannon’s PhD research, funded by the Scottish Graduate School for Social Sciences, which will run until 2027.
The Climate Change and Mental Health Community Questionnaire is available online. In addition to providing answers, respondents can choose to to sign up to help create community flood and drought maps and knowledge booklets, as well as share their experiences in a one-on-one interview which will help to inform the co-created resources and the research findings.
For further information, contact Rhiannon directly.
First published: 24 November 2025