Abstract:Background:”¯Climate change and mental health are increasingly recognized as interlinked global challenges. Southeast Asia (SEA) is especially vulnerable, given its varying health system capacities and socioeconomic disparities. Singapore and the Philippines offer contrasting contexts shaped by differing political structures, healthcare systems, and climate risks, providing a unique opportunity for comparative analysis to inform evidence-based, context-sensitive policymaking. Objectives:”¯ This study explores how Singapore and the Philippines address the climate change and mental health intersection in national policy. It maps policies at this intersection, including broader climate and health policies, evaluating their strengths and limitations and identifying opportunities for improved policy responsiveness. The goal is to generate actionable recommendations to guide national-level strategies that better integrate mental health within climate change adaptation. Materials and Methods:”¯Using the policy analysis triangle framework, this study examined policy content, actors, context, and processes. Document analysis was complemented by 20 semi-structured interviews with experts in climate change and mental health from both countries. Data were analyzed using hybrid thematic analysis, incorporating both inductive and deductive approaches. Results:”¯ Preliminary findings indicated that although climate-health intersections were more explicitly acknowledged in the Philippines, owing to its high disaster-risk profile, mental health remains an implicit or overlooked in both countries. Stakeholders emphasized the pressing need for robust evidence to support policymaking and to prevent worsening mental health outcomes. Strengthening the recognition of mental health as a climate issue was critical to advancing planetary health and fostering resilient responses to climate change in SEA. Conclusions:”¯Integrating mental health into climate policy is essential for building truly resilient and equitable health systems. As SEA confronts escalating climate threats, proactive, evidence-informed policymaking at this intersection can drive transformative change toward planetary health.
Keywords: Climate Change and Planetary Health, Climate Change, Mental Health, Policy Analysis, Philippines, Singapore
