Nurturing Mental Health in a Climate-Changing World: Another Critical Challenge to Face Together

Michael Samuel MBE

Published 3 minutes ago.
About a 4 minute read.

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As with other forms of anxiety, climate anxiety must be navigated with great care; and it is essential that the younger generation have allies around them when facing such an enormous challenge as climate change.

This week we are marking Mental-Health Awareness
Week,
the theme of which is anxiety — which has become prevalent across society,
particularly for young people.

Some have described the UK as an “anxious nation.” Studies suggest that more
than 8 million people in the UK are experiencing anxiety at any given time. It
affects many children and young people. The last few years have seen anxiety and
other mental-health conditions escalate in children and young people. Whereas
one in eight children suffered from a mental-health illness pre-pandemic, this
has now increased to one in six.

One of the growing elements of anxiety is climate
anxiety.
This amounts to distress about climate change, its impacts on the landscape and
human existence, and what might happen if action is not taken in time to avert
disaster.
It can manifest as chronic fear of environmental collapse and intrusive thoughts
about the long-term future of humanity.

The ONS has reported that, behind the cost-of-living
crisis, climate change is the second biggest concern facing adults in the UK —
with 74
percent
feeling worried about climate change to some extent.

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It is important, however, to understand that there are essential differences
between worrying about climate change and having climate anxiety. Worry is often
a motivator: If you are worried about something, it can prompt you to take
action to try and resolve it. Anxiety is more extreme, overwhelming and, at
times, debilitating. Its effects range from a racing heart and shortness of
breath to being unable to maintain social relationships or function in your
daily life at work or school.

Climate anxiety affects people of all ages and walks of life, but its impacts
are not even. It is felt most acutely by those living on the frontline of
climate-related disasters and those who feel they have the most to lose in the
event of long-term environmental catastrophe. As such, in the UK, climate
anxiety disproportionately affects children and young people who are worried
about the state of the world they will inherit.

Recent research has revealed that climate change is causing widespread, deeply
felt anxiety among young people in the UK. More than 50 percent of 16- to
25-year-olds interviewed by the University of Bath reported that they felt
anxious, powerless and
guilty
about climate change. Similarly, the youth non-profit organisation Force of
Nature found that more than 70 percent of young
people
feel hopeless in the face of the climate crisis and as many as 56 percent think
that humanity is doomed.

As Chair of the Anna Freud Centre, a children’s
mental-health charity, I have witnessed the extent to which the climate crisis
impacts young people’s mental health. As with other forms of anxiety, climate
anxiety must be navigated with great care; and it is essential that the younger
generation have allies around them when facing such an enormous challenge as
climate change.

Now more than ever, it is important to ensure that children and the people that
care for them don’t try to take on these challenges in isolation. The first step
in helping children and young people cope with climate anxiety is being open and
available to talk about their concerns with them. Climate change is a very real
and pressing issue; so, it can be counterproductive to try and minimise a young
person’s fears about it as this may lead them to internalise their anxieties.
Instead, talking about the issue with them in an age-appropriate way and
validating their feelings is crucial.

Only 26 percent of the young people surveyed by Force for Nature felt that they
knew how to contribute to solving the climate crisis; and the sense of
helplessness that may be felt by the remaining 74 percent can be very dangerous.
Therefore, it is important to encourage young people to try and find manageable
solutions and productive ways of addressing their emotions. Rather than always
offering reassurance, try responding to their questions with another question.
For example, ‘I know you are worried about plastic
pollution;
so, what can we do to minimise our own plastic use?’ This can
help break what may seem like a larger problem down into smaller, more
manageable pieces that have more easily identifiable solutions.

Ultimately, climate change and its impacts can feel overwhelming for anyone; so,
it is essential that no one tries to bear this burden alone. By demonstrating
that you understand a young person’s concerns and are available to discuss them,
you can help them alleviate their worries and find out what their personal
contribution looks like.

Ongoing issues such as the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis and war in
Ukraine
already provide plenty of daily anxiety. But as our newsfeeds are increasingly
inundated with stories about environmental and climate-related disasters, the
lesser-known climate anxiety should be openly discussed and addressed.

Published May 18, 2023 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST

Michael Samuel MBE

Michael Samuel is co-founder and Chair of Full Fact (a charity which aims to check and correct facts reported in the news) and Civic (which aims to support a major change in the approach of communities and organisations); and Chair of the Anna Freud Centre, Muddy Puddles and Murex Energy. He is a Trustee of Helpforce and manages five family Charitable Trusts. In business, over three decades, he built up Mayborn Group and was Chair of AGL communications agency. In the New Year’s Honours list 2020, Michael was awarded an MBE in recognition for his services to young people and to mental health. He is married with four adult children and lives between London and Somerset.

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