Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has shared her experience of battling severe depression at the age of 11 due to concerns about climate change. She stopped talking and eating, resulting in a weight loss of 10 kilograms in just two months.
In Canada, a mother in Salmon Arm, B.C., expressed how the weight of anxiety about her children’s future in a changing climate feels suffocating. Similarly, a student in Calgary struggled with anxiety surrounding food choices related to the planet’s health, leading to periods of minimal food intake.
A recent study, published in Nature Mental Health, surveyed over 2,400 Canadians aged 13 and older to gauge climate change anxiety levels. The findings revealed that nearly a million Canadians experience such anxiety to a degree that disrupts their sleep and daily functioning.
The study’s lead researcher, public health professor Sherilee Harper from the University of Alberta, highlighted that over 980,000 Canadians are significantly impacted by climate anxiety, affecting their sleep patterns, concentration, and overall well-being.
Harper emphasized the importance of providing support for individuals experiencing climate anxiety, whether through therapy or community initiatives like climate cafes. While taking action on climate change can alleviate anxiety, creating spaces for open dialogue without pressure for immediate action is also crucial.
The study noted that climate anxiety levels vary across demographics, with higher rates observed among younger generations, Indigenous communities, women, individuals with lower incomes, and those residing in Northern Canada.
Notably, climate anxiety was found to decrease with age, being most prevalent among Generation Y and Z and less pronounced among Baby Boomers and older age groups.
Experts like Merril Dean, a school psychologist in the Northwest Territories, linked heightened anxiety in northern regions to visible climate impacts such as faster warming rates and increased wildfire occurrences.
Dean highlighted the existential dread experienced by children in the face of drastic environmental changes caused by events like wildfires and shifting winter conditions affecting traditional activities.
Psychology professor Catherine Malboeuf underscored the rising psychological impacts of climate change across all age groups, emphasizing the need to destigmatize climate anxiety and promote open discussions on the topic.
The study sheds light on the growing awareness of climate anxiety and the importance of addressing mental health concerns amidst environmental challenges.