Over half of the risk associated with mental disorders can be linked to environmental influences such as socioeconomic status, urban living, pollution, and climate conditions. Researchers are actively working to understand how these factors affect mental health while also seeking innovative strategies to alleviate the associated challenges. This endeavor involves gathering and merging extensive datasets of various kinds. Scientists from the Earth, Brain, Health Commission have published their findings in Nature Mental Health, detailing how to integrate data from around the globe to arrive at trustworthy conclusions.
Urbanization and climate change are major trends that reshape our environment and influence human health, contributing to conditions like depression and anxiety. A group of experts across various disciplines have joined forces in the environMENTAL project, which aims to uncover how various elements of a person’s surroundings relate to their mental well-being. Andre Marquand, a professor of computational psychiatry at Radboud University Medical Center, plays a pivotal role in this initiative.
“To achieve a global understanding, it’s essential to combine data from various sources that utilize different measurement techniques,” Marquand states. Nonetheless, integrating data presents challenges due to the diverse methods of data collection and variations in populations. Marquand’s team is working to synthesize intricate data from numerous studies conducted worldwide. They propose a four-step method: First, specialists conduct a thorough review of the data for quality assurance. Next, they ensure consistency across the dataset. After that, advanced statistical techniques are employed to merge the information. Lastly, the integrated data undergoes another round of validation to confirm its reliability and applicability. With comprehensive datasets, researchers aim to gain insights into individuals’ environments and predict their mental health outcomes and overall well-being.
Marquand’s contribution in Nature Mental Health is part of a broader series linked to The Earth, Brain, Health Commission (EBHC), a collaborative effort between environMENTAL and Springer Nature. This alliance focuses on consolidating pertinent knowledge and offering a credible reference for decision-makers. EBHC unites academic researchers, corporate partners such as Google, and policy-making organizations like the World Health Organization.
“This is an incredible opportunity to leverage scientific findings to influence policy adjustments and enhance the health of future generations,” Marquand remarks. EBHC intends to release a compilation of research that will lead to a policy document in the next few years. He adds, “Investing in altering environmental factors, particularly sociodemographic ones, will yield multiple returns for governments by alleviating mental health issues and aiding individuals in adapting to rapidly evolving environments.”
