Key Takeaways:
– Growing research indicates that a significant portion of adolescents and young adults harbour anxiety concerning the impact of climate change.
– Young people feel powerless, helpless, and hopeless about their future due to climate change.
– There is a pressing need to include questions about climate change in mental health screenings for children.
– 89% of US teenagers regularly contemplate the environment issues, with most of them more worried than hopeful.
– A global survey revealed that 84% of 16-25-year-olds in ten countries are at least moderately worried about climate change.
– Experts recommend open-ended listening, allowing children to express their fears, and participating in activities that support environmental sustainability.
– The pressure and worry concerning climate change can be channeled into advocacy, activism, and a quest for knowledge to affect positive changes, according to some psychologists.
Climate Anxiety Affecting the Youth
We’ve all seen the devastating effects of climate change, from life-threatening heatwaves to ferocious wildfires and colossal storms that obliterate entire neighborhoods. What few people discuss, however, is how climate change is severely impacting the emotional well-being of the younger generation.
An increasing body of research indicates that a significant number of adolescents and young adults worldwide feel increasingly uneasy worrying about the unstable climate and its future impacts. Abby Rafeek, a 14-year-old high schooler from Gardena, California, is among those seriously troubled by the harrowing effects of climate change. Rafeek shared that she’s often stressed envisioning the future, especially if society doesn’t address climate change. Wildfires, in particular, were a significant concern, causing visible damage and polluting the air.
Insights from a Climate Change Survey
Dr. Rammy Assaf, a pediatric emergency physician, realized the depth of young people’s concerns when he adapted and conducted a survey on climate change for children aged 12-17. Assaf concluded that climate change was a significant cause of anxiety and concern for young people’s emotional well-being. The youths, when asked about their outlook on the future, often used words like ‘helpless’, ‘powerless’, and ‘hopeless’.
Dr. Assaf suggests incorporating questions about climate change in mental health screenings at places where children get medical care. This intersects with the broader mental health crisis among young people, characterized by increased loneliness, depression, and suicide rates over the past decade.
The Rising Consciousness About Environment
A 2022 Harris Poll revealed telling statistics that highlight American teenagers’ growing concerns about the environment. According to the poll, 89% of teenagers regularly thought about the environment, with most feeling more anxious than hopeful. 69% feared that they and their families would be impacted by climate change in the near future, with 82% anticipating major life decisions—like where to live or whether to have children—would hinge on the state of the environment.
This heightened sense of awareness and concern isn’t confined to the United States. A 2021 survey of 16- to 25-year-olds across ten nations discovered that 59% were extremely or very anxious, and 84% were at least moderately perturbed about climate change.
Coping with Climate Anxiety
Addressing climate change anxiety in young people necessitates empathy, understanding, and action. Louise Chawla, professor emerita in the environmental design program at the University of Colorado-Boulder, suggests that parents first create a safe space for children to discuss their fears. Family activities that reaffirm a commitment to the environment can also help mitigate these fears. Participation in cleanup drives, recycling efforts, advocacy initiatives by civic or religious organizations are great places to start.
Using Climate Anxiety Positively
Finally, the concern about climate change can also be seen positively, as an encouraging sign of a more conscious and concerned generation. Vickie Mays, a professor of psychology and health policy at UCLA, believes these worries can be transformed into advocacy, activism, and a zeal for new information to change the situation. By enforcing this mindset, youth not only come together to fight against something that threatens their future but they also develop powerful coping mechanisms against anxiety. While mental well-being suffers due to climate change, it also provides an opportunity to instill resilience and activism in the younger generations.