Wendy. Periodically. Mental Health and Climate Change.
Climate change isn't just an environmental crisis—it’s a mental health crisis too. As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, communities around the world are grappling with more than just physical damage. A growing body of research shows that the psychological toll of climate change is significant, especially among young people, frontline communities, and those with fewer resources to adapt.
Eco-anxiety, climate grief, and chronic stress are increasingly common responses to witnessing or experiencing environmental degradation. Whether it's wildfires, floods, prolonged droughts, or the steady loss of biodiversity, these events can trigger trauma, feelings of helplessness, and long-term emotional distress. For many, the future feels uncertain—and that uncertainty can weigh heavily on mental well-being.
Mental health professionals can offer concrete tools to help clients navigate these feelings. Techniques such as grounding exercises, mindfulness, and values-based action (drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) can help reduce overwhelm. Encouraging climate-aware journaling, nature connection practices, and building local climate resilience communities also supports emotional processing and a sense of agency.
Healing must happen at both the individual and collective level. We can help clients transform despair into engagement—by validating their grief, fostering connection, and promoting sustainable, justice-oriented action. Supporting mental wellness in the age of climate change is essential work, and it starts with helping people feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Mental health professionals are starting to respond, but we need broader systemic support. It’s critical to integrate climate-aware practices into healthcare, education, and policy. Promoting resilience, community connection, and climate justice can help people cope—and even transform their distress into meaningful action. Addressing climate change means caring for both the planet and the people who live on it.
