Can we see the invisible epidemic?

Emotional damage to kids from climate change

Buddy wants to join the game. As we watch a 5-on-5 pickup, the teens look happy and carefree. If they’re anxious, it’s about performance in the game, or maybe the effect on their social standing - normal teen worries. But if they took a break and came over and talked seriously with Buddy and me, we might sense something more, a low-grade worry, a general anxiety that a surprising number of kids harbor - anxiety about climate change!

A huge invisible threat 
If this group of 10 kids is typical,

• 8 of them will say they’re ‘moderately’ or ‘extremely’ worried about climate change and the authorities’ response to it.

• 5 will say they feel ‘sad,’ ‘anxious,’ ‘angry,’ ‘powerless,’ ‘helpless,’ or ‘guilty’ about it, and

• 4 would admit their feelings about climate change negatively affect their daily life and functioning.

But they don’t tell us. The problem is invisible, and parents, teachers, and policy-makers need to see it. We read about kids’ mental health issues caused by COVID but those caused by climate change are hardly mentioned.

Young people’s thoughts surface clearly in psychological surveys, most recently of 16-25-year-olds in 10 countries including the US. In particular they consider their government’s response to climate change negatively. Betrayal is what they feel. Their government isn’t acting to give them a better future. Nor is their school. Nor, for most, are their parents! How can they not feel betrayed?

What has been shown to help
How can we reduce their emotional pain? For one, helping teens get involved in climate activism can moderate their stress - all the more if we help them see similar efforts and attitudes in other children, in their family, friends, and school. It’s also helpful if we point out important people who really are listening and really trying to improve the future - maybe point to where national or local governments have begun to do something about climate change. (More detailed suggestions coming in future posts.)

There are other ways, of course, to reduce teen stress - exercise, contact with nature, and so on. And, of course, there’s always that proven comforter, the love of a pet like Buddy!

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LEARN, THINK, ACT
Climate change causing teen anxiety:  University of Bath survey: 10,000 (aged 16-25 years), ten countries: thoughts and feelings about climate change and government response.
Stress reducers
Pets reduce anxiety