Climate change anxietyClimate change anxiety
All In The Mind
There’s more and more scientific evidence that climate change is having a major impact on our planet. Recently more than 11,000 scientists across the world declared a climate emergency, and many of us are experiencing grief, anxiety and powerlessness about the future. We discuss the connection between climate change and mental health, and the strategies we need to maintain hope and take action.
29:07•1 Dec 2019
Climate Change Anxiety, Eco-Grief and Finding Active Hope
Episode Overview
- Climate change is linked to worry, grief and anxiety, especially among young people facing an uncertain future.
- Eco-anxiety can involve denial, fear, depression and a sense of powerlessness, but these reactions are psychologically understandable.
- Different climate impacts, such as sudden disasters and slow-onset events like drought, tend to relate to different mental health problems.
- Grief workshops, creative expression and simple self-care practices (breathing, grounding, yoga, meditation) can ease climate-related distress.
- Joining others in climate action can reduce disempowerment, build belonging and foster a sense of "active hope".
“You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.”
What emotional and inspiring tales of recovery are out there? Here, the focus shifts from alcohol and drugs to something many people now feel addicted to worrying about: climate change. All In The Mind, hosted by Lynne Malcolm, looks at how the climate crisis weighs on mental health, especially for young people.
You’ll hear Greta Thunberg’s fiery words – "You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words" – setting the tone for the anxiety and grief that follow. Teenagers Tess Harkin from Tasmania and Patrick Rudd from Port Macquarie talk about bushfires, smoke-filled skies, and the gnawing question of whether it’s fair to bring children into a strained planet. Tess describes climate worry shaping her choices, from becoming vegetarian to joining the school strike for climate.
Patrick acknowledges the fear but tries to "channel that fear" into action. Psychologist Carol Ride, from Psychology for a Safe Climate, explains eco-anxiety as a mix of fear, grief and denial, and why young people are especially vulnerable. She talks about workshops where people use art and sharing to process their feelings, alongside simple self-care tools such as breathing, grounding, yoga and meditation.
Honorary professor Helen Berry adds a research angle, connecting heatwaves, droughts and disasters to mood and anxiety problems. She points out that hot days can affect mental health about as much as unemployment, and that those already struggling are often hit hardest. Running through the episode is a practical message: acting together is one of the healthiest responses to fear.
Joining climate groups, writing to MPs, organising strikes or campaigns – these collective efforts can replace isolation and disempowerment with connection, belonging and a sense of "active hope". If climate news leaves you feeling overwhelmed, this conversation might help you see that your worries are shared, valid, and something you can work with rather than be swallowed by.
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