Your positivity makes the earth turn.
Be Kind To Your Mind - Calculator
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How often do you feel anxious or distressed about climate change?
Be Kind To Your Mind
If you’re feeling emotional about where the world is headed, you’re not alone. From the trauma of experiencing a climate disaster to the anxiety of an unknown future, there’s growing evidence that climate change is having an impact on our mental health.
The climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges we’ve ever faced. At times it can feel overwhelming, not knowing where to start and like our actions don’t count. But there is good news - one of the best ways to support your mental health is to take action on climate - like the steps you see throughout this website. If you feel you need more support, talking to professionals, joining a support group, or trying to practice mindfulness are also good ideas.
Looking after your mental health will give you the strength to tackle climate change - we need you!
Tips
Taking action on climate can strengthen your mental health, especially when you do it with others. So consider taking this step alongside one of our other steps and possibly joining a group where you can take action on climate with others.
Equally important is talking to someone about how you feel. Most people are worried about climate change, but they might not be talking about it, so breaking the silence will help you and others. If it’s difficult to talk to those around you, consider reaching out to new people in your community through initiatives like the Good Grief Network or Climate Cafes. Or ask your mental health professional to become climate aware or trained on the psychology of climate change.
Consider other mental health activities that could help focus your mind, control your breathing and lower your heart rate, such as yoga, mindfulness, meditation and spending time in nature.
Search out an online newsletter about how to handle climate stress, like Gen Dread.
Benefits
Negative emotions about climate change can impact your daily life and how you function. Improving your resilience with coping strategies can improve your mental health, wellbeing, and give you the strength needed to move forward.
It could also connect you to like-minded people, who share your concerns, providing the social support to take action together.
Explore more steps
Inspire your organization to make changes that matter.Find out more
Reduce the amount of meat you eat in a week.Find out more
Use solar to power your home or heat your water.Find out more
Share a ride, go electric or travel by bike or foot instead.Find out more
Choose how financial institutions use your money.Find out more
Team up with others and boost your impact.Find out more
References
A gathering of people meeting with facilitators to share their responses to the climate crisis.
Climate solutions not only improve the quality of our air and food but also enhance our cognitive abilities and strengthen our mental health.
Climate change and mental health, The Bartlett, UCL
Climate-Aware Mental Health Interest
Empirical evidence showing both the acute and chronic mental health effects of climate change has also risen sharply in the past decade.
Ecological grief and anxiety: the start of a healthy response to climate change?
A majority of respondents in every country and territory surveyed say they are “very” or “somewhat” worried about climate change.
International Public Opinion on Climate Change
10-Steps to Personal Resilience & Empowerment in a Chaotic Climate
Over 45% of young people in ten countries, inclusive of low income and high income nations, said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning.