Educators, mental health experts, parents, and environmental advocates offer hopeful strategies for helping our children and youth navigate their complex emotional responses to the climate crisis. Disseminating accurate scientific information about climate change and involving them in participatory initiatives to address its effects can foster understanding and optimism. Equally crucial is the awareness among adults in their lives that children and youth may grapple with a range of emotions necessitating sensitive handling and, in certain instances, professional mental health support.
Over the past year, the global community has endured severe weather events such as wildfires, floods, droughts, hurricanes, and extreme heatwaves. These events have resulted in physical harm, loss of life, and psychological trauma. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has noted that "children may experience mental health repercussions from major storms, wildfires, and other extreme events, which are expected to increase due to climate change."1
Both adults and children are distressed by the conflicting perspectives on climate change: those of climate scientists sounding alarms about environmental harm and those who deny scientific evidence. Some children believe that adults need to take their climate concerns more seriously. A majority of young people express "extreme worry" about climate change and may perceive a bleak future or the impending doom of humanity. Terms like "Eco-anxiety" and "Climate Anxiety" have emerged to describe this distress.2
Hickman (2021) surveyed 10,000 individuals aged 16 to 25 from Australia, Brazil, Finland, France, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The findings revealed that 59 percent of respondents were very or extremely concerned about climate change, with 84 percent reporting moderate worry. Alarmingly, more than half reported feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, powerlessness, helplessness, and guilt; 75 percent expressed fear of the future, while 83 percent believed that humanity has failed to care for the planet.3
Numerous approaches exist to empower children and youth, helping them combat feelings of powerlessness, from simple projects like tree planting to educational nature walks to learn about local ecology. The Climate Action Project, a student-centered, 6-week program, has created a global network across 149 countries. It brings together like-minded teachers working on the same topic to empower young individuals with the latest scientific insights and solutions to the climate crisis. Students engage in climate change discussions, and the website offers a wealth of resources in 15 languages. EarthDay.org's mission is to diversify, educate, and mobilize the global environmental movement. Stemming from the inaugural Earth Day in 1970, the organization is now the world's largest recruiter for environmental action, collaborating with over 150,000 partners in 192 countries to promote positive change for the planet. Children and youth can participate in a billion acts of green to support the environment.
The following can help in engaging with with children and youth to create meaningful educational opportunities, emotional support, dialogues, and activities:
Working together, we can support children and youth as they grapple with their emotional responses to the climate crisis. Their thoughts and feelings deserve recognition with compassion and empathy. Moreover, they can learn how to formulate solutions to address climate challenges and contribute to the planet's healing.
References
1 . Environmental Protection Agency, Accessed 9.29.23 online. https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-and-childrens-health#….
2. Bell, J.E., et al. (2016). Ch. 4: Impacts of extreme events on human health. In: The impacts of climate change on human health in the United States: A scientific assessment. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, p. 108.
3. Hickman C, Marks E, Pihkala P, Clayton S, Lewandowski RE, Mayall EE, Wray B, Mellor C, van Susteren L. Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey. Lancet Planet Health. 2021 Dec;5(12):e863-e873. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00278-3. PMID: 34895496.
The Climate Crisis: Helping Youth With Emotional Distress
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03.10.2023
Educators, mental health experts, parents, and environmental advocates offer hopeful strategies for helping our children and youth navigate their complex emotional responses to the climate crisis. Disseminating accurate scientific information about climate change and involving them in participatory initiatives to address its effects can foster understanding and optimism. Equally crucial is the awareness among adults in their lives that children and youth may grapple with a range of emotions necessitating sensitive handling and, in certain instances, professional mental health support.
Over the past year, the global community has endured severe weather events such as wildfires, floods, droughts, hurricanes, and extreme heatwaves. These events have resulted in physical harm, loss of life, and psychological trauma. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has noted that "children may experience mental health repercussions from major storms, wildfires, and other extreme events, which are expected to increase due to climate change."1
Both adults and children are distressed by the........
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