As part of our research on mental health in children, we decided to look into “eco-anxiety” and what you can do to help your child or family member who is experiencing it.
What is eco-anxiety?
The term eco-anxiety encompasses the stress, fear, and grief that people feel when considering climate change and the effects it will have on their future and on future generations. Hearing about the seemingly endless environmental problems related to climate change, from extreme weather to plastic in the oceans can heighten these feelings. This can be especially pronounced in children as they begin to learn about climate change and feel overwhelmed by the problems and powerless to do anything about them.
Eco-anxiety is a thorny issue to tackle because climate change is a real threat; although they can get blown out of proportion in the imagination, the problems are certainly real and serious. Kids are aware of the issues happening around them and in the larger world and their anxiety comes from a genuine place.
How common is eco-anxiety?
Eco-anxiety is on the rise, especially in children. In a survey of over 10,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 25, 84% reported feeling at least moderately anxious about the state of the environment, with 45% saying that their worries negatively affected their daily lives. Many said they felt angry, scared, guilty, and powerless to do anything about it.
It isn’t just teenagers who suffer from this. Increasingly, children of all ages are learning about climate change and experiencing the feelings of stress and helplessness that can come with the knowledge.
What can you do to help your child deal with eco-anxiety?
Climate change is real and should be taken seriously. However, it’s important to realize that like all fears, it can be blown out of proportion in a child’s mind. Your goal is not to dismiss their fears or ignore the real problems, but to help them understand climate change and cope with their concerns in a healthy way. Here are some tips for helping your child process eco-anxiety:
Listen, encourage, and explain
If your child has fears about the environment, it’s important not to dismiss them. Listen and encourage them to tell you what they know and what’s bothering them. Find out where they heard the information from and if it is a credible source – are they understanding the whole picture? Are their fears running away from them?
Be empathetic and validate their emotions. You can explain that their concern is admirable and that you share the same concerns. Without brushing off their legitimate fears, gently correct them on anything they’re mistaken about so they aren’t overinflating the danger in their mind. Yes, scientists have predicted we have 12 years to stave off the worst effects of climate change. No, that does not mean the Earth will be burned to a crisp in that time.
Many children struggle with feelings of guilt when they think about climate change. Assure them that climate change is not their fault. They did not cause the problems that the world is facing. Concern for the environment is positive but feeling guilty is an unhealthy reaction.
Reframe conversations and be a role model
Children are sensitive to what’s going on around them. This applies especially to how their parents are behaving and the messaging they’re getting at home.
“Children are looking to parents to decide what their attitude should be about a problem, and how worried they should be.” says M.D. Ziv Cohen in this article. If you are bringing home your fears about climate change, chances are your child will pick up on them.
This is not to say that you shouldn’t be talking about climate change in your home but try to do so in a way that doesn’t cause excessive anxiety. Focus on solutions instead of just problems and try to highlight hopeful news. If your child can see that you are optimistic and hopeful, they will follow your example.
Educate yourselves together
Understanding climate change is the first step to doing something about it. Take time to read news and studies together and discuss them. Remember that stories in the media are sensationalized to increase readership; because our brains are hardwired to hyperfocus on the negatives, headlines are often written to grab our attention by being dramatic and alarming. Try to find primary studies and see what the research is actually saying. The Earth Rangers website has educational resources including a podcast to help teach children about climate change.
Try to balance what you read. While the news often focuses on the doom and gloom, there is lots of positive and inspiring environmental news that deserves just as much attention as the negative. Check out the Daily Climate’s good news page for uplifting environmental stories. Be sure to focus on solutions as much as you focus on problems. A sense of hope is the best way to combat eco-anxiety.
Get out in nature
Eco-anxiety is the same as other types of anxiety. Everyone needs a chance to decompress and get away from the problems of the world, and time in nature is the best way to do this. For more information on the importance of nature for mental health, check out our blog post on the subject. Additionally, spending time in nature will help your child develop a connection to the environment and foster their sense of environmental stewardship.
Time in nature can help center your child in the here and now so their anxieties don’t run away with them. Children who spend more time in nature are more resilient and experience more positive emotion. Take time to get out as a family and enjoy the beautiful places that our province has to offer.
Take action
One of the most challenging aspects of eco-anxiety to deal with is the feelings of helplessness. Your child may feel that the problems are too big and there is nothing they can do in the face of climate change. This doesn’t have to be true. While the problems are too large for any one person, there are still ways that everyone can make a difference.
Find ways to engage in the environmental movement as a family. Try to find local initiatives, where your efforts will have the biggest impact. Empower your child to get involved and help them feel like they’re doing something that makes a difference.
At NatureKids, we encourage our clubs to put on at least one stewardship-based explorer day every year. This can be a good way to get involved with local groups who are working on environmental projects. Your child can’t solve the problem of climate change on their own but they can help. Taking action and seeing results is one of the best ways to overcome eco-anxiety.
With the escalating environmental problems created by climate change and the media attention they get, eco-anxiety is increasingly a normal part of life. Concern for the environment is natural and understandable but it shouldn’t be overwhelming. We hope that these tips help you navigate the problem of climate change with your family without unnecessary stress and anxiety.
For more information on the subject of eco-anxiety, check out these articles:
Eco-anxiety: how to help when your kids are worried about climate change
How To Help a Child Struggling With Climate Change Anxiety
The Environmental Burden of Generation Z
Anxious for Action: Eco-Anxiety Parent Guide Eco Anxious Stories