Ongoing ecological and climate crisis affects all life on Earth—human and more than human. Because so many factors are involved that include the destruction of ecosystems and loss of species as well as social, economic, and political issues, this is now being called the “polycrisis.” In the face of this global crisis, some humans are experiencing both acute and chronic mental health impacts broadly known as climate or eco-anxiety. The American Psychological Association points to several sources of eco-anxiety, from the “unrelenting day-by-day despair” that can occur during droughts to the stress that comes from “watching the slow and seemingly irrevocable impacts of climate change unfold, and worrying about the future for oneself, children, and later generations.”*
Victims of climate change are especially vulnerable and many have become climate refugees. Some people in the developed world may feel eco-anxiety because they are “deeply affected by feelings of loss, helplessness, and frustration due to their inability to feel like they are making a difference in stopping climate change.” This might develop into guilt as they consider how their own actions may have contributed to the current state of the environment. Psychologists are now acknowledging the extent to which internalizing ecological concerns and experiences truly affects human well-being.
Here you will find a wealth of resources in response to these challenges—resources dedicated to understanding and coping with global eco-anxiety and eco-grief both individually and as a human community.
*all quotes from the March 2017 report “Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Implications, and Guidance,” a collaboration of ecoAmerica, the American Psychological Association, and Climate for Health.
Books:
Edited by Douglas A. Vakoch and Sam Mickey. Oxford University Press, 2022.
Eco-Anxiety and Planetary Hope: Experiencing the Twin Disasters of COVID-19 and Climate Change
Edited by Douglas A. Vakoch and Sam Mickey. Springer, 2022.
One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet
By Heather White. Harper Horizon, 2022.
Grounded: A Guided Journal to Help You Reconnect with the Power of Nature—and Yourself
By Patricia H. Hasbach. Simon & Schuster, 2022.
Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis
By Britt Wray. Penguin Random House, 2022.
Exploring Climate Change and Mental Health: An Educational Toolkit
By Natania Abebe. BCC Campus Pressbooks, 2022. Learn more here.
Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in Without Going Crazy
By Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone. 10th anniversary edition. New World Library, 2022.
Warmth: Coming of Age at the End of Our World
By Daniel Sherrell. Penguin, 2021.
Parenting in a Changing Climate: Tools for Cultivating Resilience, Taking Action, and Practicing Hope in the Face of Climate Change
By Elizabeth Bechard. Citrine Publishing, 2021.
All the Feelings Under the Sun: How to Deal With Climate Change
Children’s book by Leslie Davenport. Illustrations by Jessica Smith. American Psychological Association, 2021.
World as Lover, World as Self
By Joanna Macy. 30th anniversary edition. Parallax Press, 2021.
A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety
By Sarah Jaquette Ray. University of California Press, 2020.
Words for a Dying World: Stories of Grief and Courage from the Global Church
Edited by Hannah Malcolm. SCM Press, 2020.
Climate Psychology: On Indifference to Disaster
Edited by Paul Hoggett. Springer, 2019.
Shinrin Yoku: The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing
By Yoshifumi Miyazaki. Timber Press, 2018.
Your Guide to Forest Bathing: Experience the Healing Power of Nature
By M. Amos Clifford. Red Wheel, 2018.
Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change: A Clinician’s Guide
By Leslie Davenport. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2017.
Environmental Melancholia: Psychoanalytic Dimensions of Engagement
By Renee Lertzman. Routledge, 2016.
The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief
By Francis Weller. North Atlantic Books, 2015.
Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age
By Joanna Macy. New Society Publishers, 1983.
Reports:
World Health Organization. 2022.
“Climate Change Sparks Emotional Responses: American Climate Perspectives Survey 2022. Vol II. Part II”
By M. Speiser, A. N. Hill, and K. Catalano. ecoAmerica. May 2022.
“Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Inequities, Responses”
By Susan Clayton, Christie Manning, Meighen Speiser, and Alison Hill. American Psychological Association, Climate for Health, and ecoAmerica. 2021.
“The Rise of Eco-anxiety”
By Sacha Wright, Vida Han, and Clover Hogan. Force of Nature. March 2021.
“Cooler Earth – Higher Benefits: Actions by those who care about children, climate and finance”
By Frederique Seidel and Emmanuel de Martel. 2nd edition. World Council of Churches. 2021.
Journal Articles:
By Panu Pihkala. Sustainability 14, no. 24 (December 12, 2022).
“Christic Witnessing: A Practical Response to Ecological Trauma”
By Timothy A. Middleton. Practical Theology (April 2022): 1-12.
“Climate Anxiety: What Predicts It and How is It Related to Climate Action?”
By Lorraine Whitmarsh, Lois Player, Angelica Jiongco, Melissa James, Marc Williams, Elizabeth Marks, and Patrick Kennedy-Williams. Journal of Environmental Psychology 83 (October 2022).
“Understanding Eco-anxiety”
By Bronwyn Wake. Nature Climate Change (September 2022).
“Climate Changes Mental Health”
By Nicole Hill and Robert Perkowitz. Journal of Environmental Health (July/August 2022): 38-39.
“Children and Climate Anxiety: An Ecofeminist Practical Theological Perspective”
By Joyce Ann Merce. Religions 13, no. 4 (March 31, 2022): 1-15.
“Social Media May Contribute to Eco-Distress: The Role of Nature Relatedness as Both Causal Mechanism and Protective Factor”
By Crystal Smith, Andrew Allen, and Lee Kannis-Dymand. Ecopsychology (March 2022): 17- 29.
“Toward a Taxonomy of Climate Emotions”
By Panu Pihkala. Frontiers in Climate. January 14, 2022.
“The Anatomy of Inaction – Climate Complexity Change”
“Climate Complexity Change,” unpsychology magazine, Issue 7, Spring 2021.
News Articles:
By Stephen Dinan. The Washington Times. February 15, 2023.
“Eco-anxious? Here’s how Judaism can help us face the climate crisis”
By Rabbi Laura Bellows. J. The Jewish News of Northern California. January 27, 2023.
“Trees Please: Exploring The Nature Of Eco-Anxiety”
By Andrea Ferrari. News Of The Area. January 27, 2023.
“The Weather Station and UBC Contemporary Players’ soundtrack climate grief”
By Tova Gaster and Elena Massing. The Ubyssey. January 25, 2023.
“The Mental Health Toll of Climate Injustices”
By Sheri Levy. Psychology Today. January 20, 2023.
“Just Breathe, Okâwîmâwaskiy offers a unique performance experience on climate anxiety”
By Julieanne Acosta. The Gauntlet. January 19 2022.
“4 podcasts on climate anxiety and the environment in 2023”
By Aisiri Amin. Mint Lounge. January 5, 2023.
“Young artists process climate grief in new digital zine Solastalgia”
By Kaila Johnson. Ubyssey. December 21, 2022.
“‘The Grievers’ of Climate Change”
By Erica Hellerstein. Noema. December 15, 2022.
“Climate fear and anxiety on MDI inspired a movement poised to grow across Maine”
By Nicole Ogrysko. Maine Public. December 15, 2022.
“Researchers investigate the impact of climate change on mental health”
By Sharon Aschaiek. University Affairs. December 13, 2022.
“Finding the Antidote to Climate Anxiety in Stories About Taking Action”
By Kiley Bense. Inside Climate News. December 10, 2022.
“Mourning has broken: View expressions of ecological grief from around the world”
By Natasha Rego. MSN. December 9, 2022.
“Eleventh Hour: The role of the arts in overcoming climate anxiety”
By Climate Reality Project Philippines. Manila Bulletin. December 8, 2022.
“Climate anxiety to climate action: They made careers out of saving the planet”
By Vanessa Glavinskas. Environmental Defense Fund. December 7, 2022.
“Teens Are Struggling With Climate Anxiety. Schools Haven’t Caught Up Yet”
By Madeline Will. Education Week. December 7, 2022.
“Eco-anxiety: Worrying about climate change can be stressful but it can also help to spur us into action”
By Julia Shaw. Science Focus. November 28, 2022.
“Climate anxiety: prime motivator for climate action?”
The Bubble. November 25, 2022.
“What is eco-anxiety? The psychological condition triggered by climate crisis”
By Daphne Clarance. India Today. November 23, 2022.
“When Climate Anxiety Makes for Great Art”
By Jeff Turrentine. NRDC. November 15, 2022.
“Why Climate Grief is the Next Mental Health Crisis”
By Adrian Johansen. Green Queen. November 11, 2022.
“Eco-anxiety: how to cope at a time of climate crisis”
By Sacha Wright and Emily Osterloff. Natural History Museum. November 9, 2022.
“Why the Climate Crisis Is Also a Mental Health Crisis”
By Kim Wong-Shing. CNET. November 8, 2022.
“COP27: Climate anxiety is rising - it might be a good thing”
By Georgina Rannard. BBC. November 5, 2022.
“Eco-anxiety: A looming mental health crisis”
By Liz McLaughlin. WRAL News. November 3, 2022.
“Guilt, Anxiety and Hope: The Lives of Young Climate Activists in India”
By Rashmi Mishra. Vice. November 1, 2022.
“Love in the time of climate crisis”
By Jessie Krahn. The Manitoban. November 1, 2022.
“Hope for an anxious generation”
By Ashiah Scharaga. Chico News & Review. November 1, 2022.
“UEA offering course to help students deal with ‘eco-anxiety’”
By Sam Russell and Ashlea Hickin. Norfolk Live. November 1, 2022.
“6 New Insights on Climate Change and Mental Health”
By Sebastian Ocklenburg. Psychology Today. October 30, 2022.
“Photos: Pakistan’s fishers submerged in ‘climate anxiety’”
By Maha Akbar. Aljazeera. October 28, 2022.
“How Climate Change is Affecting Mental Health”
By Simon Elstad. Greener Ideal. October 26, 2022.
“International collaborators to launch climate pastoral care course”
Religion News Service. October 20, 2022.
“Climate café for eco-anxious youth coming to Natural History Museum”
By Bea Mitchell. Blooloop. October 18, 2022.
“A Cookbook for Climate Resilience and Storytelling”
By Vikki Xu. 34th Street. October 18, 2022.
“Have Eco-Anxiety? Here’s What to Do”
By Renée Reardin. Best Health. October 17, 2022.
“Worried Earth: Eco-Anxiety and Entangled Grief”
University of Winnipeg. October 17, 2022.
“‘Many Young People Are Seized With Sadness, Anger’: In Toulouse, A Large School Is Launching Workshops On Eco-Anxiety”
By David Sadler. Globe world News Echo. October 13, 2022.
“How to tackle climate change anxiety in children”
Open Access Government. October 12, 2022.
“Hope for an anxious generation”
By Ashiah Scharaga. Chico News & Review. October 12, 2022.
“The Little Rituals That Keep Us Going”
By Dani Blum. New York Times. October 8, 2022.
“Climate Anxiety Disorder? It’s More Likely Than You Think”
By Jordan A. Sanchez. The Harvard Crimson. October 7, 2022.
“Climate anxiety is a normal response to an abnormal situation. Here’s what to do about it.”
By Laura Newberry. Los Angeles Times. October 4, 2022.
“How Two California Artists Can Help Personalize Your Eco-Grief”
By Dina Gachman. Smithsonian. October 4, 2022.
“How does climate change affect mental health?”
By Amberley Davis. Patient. September 29, 2022.
“Climate anxiety is affecting more & more people. Here’s how some doctors are trying to treat it”
By Mouhamad Rachini. CBC Radio. September 23, 2022.
“Dealing with dread: how virtual therapy can help people cope with eco-anxiety”
By Simon Lewsen. Toronto Star. September 14, 2022.
“SU students, professors discuss mental health toll of climate change studies”
By Ethan Chanin. Daily Orange. September 11, 2022.
“A new campus offering: Climate anxiety therapy”
By Ta’Leah Van Sistine. Washington Post. September 12, 2022.
“Stressed out about climate change? 4 ways to tackle both the feelings and the issues”
By Lisa Doggett. NPR. September 3, 2022.
“Climate anxiety an important driver for climate action, according to new study”
By University of Bath. Phys.org. September 2, 2022.
“The Land Mourns”
By Andi Lloyd. Christian Century. September 1, 2022.
“How Sound Can Help Soothe Eco-Anxiety”
By Daphne Chouliaraki Milner. Atmos. September 1, 2022
“Climate anxiety: 21 resources to energise you into action”
By Leah Das. Greenpeace. August 31, 2022.
“Edmonton climate activists use their ‘eco-grief’ as a tool for building communities”
By Anna Wdowczyk. CBC News. August 29, 2022.
“Climate change is worsening youth mental health, research shows”
By M.A. Jacquemain. The Weather Network. August 28, 2022.
“Climate anxiety on the rise for a ‘planet in peril’ ”
By Eleanor Mannion. RTE. August 27, 2022.
“Overcoming climate anxiety, one step at a time”
By Marc Light. Australian Jewish News. August 26, 2022.
“‘I feel my heart breaking today’ – a climate scientist’s path through grief towards hope”
By Joelle Gergis. The Conversation. August 25, 2022.
“3 surprising ways to cope with climate change”
By Rebecca Ruiz. Mashable. May 22, 2022.
“What is a global polycrisis?”
By Scott Janzwood and Thomas Homer-Dixon. Cascade Institute. April 27, 2022.
“How can we help kids cope with ‘eco-anxiety’?”
By Josie Glausiusz. BBC. April 22, 2022.
“5 Things That Can Alleviate Your Eco-Anxiety”
By Dekila Chungyalpa. Psychology Today. April 19, 2022.
“The Unseen Toll of a Warming World”
By Sarah Kerr, Noah Throop, Jack Healy, Aidan Gardiner, and Rebecca Lieberman. New York Times. March 9, 2022.
“The best ways to teach and talk about climate change with kids”
By Mary Democker. Popular Science. February 23, 2022.
“Yale’s Happiness Professor Says Anxiety Is Destroying Her Students”
By David Marchese. New York Times. February 18, 2022.
“Can religion and faith combat eco-despair?”
By Rita Sherma. The Conversation. February 17, 2022.
“Climate Change Enters the Therapy Room”
By Ellen Barry. New York Times. February 6, 2022.
“Facing our Climate Feelings Together”
By Blair Nelsen. Earth & Altar. February 2, 2022.
“As COP26 gathers, faith-based environmentalists fight eco-grief”
By Elizabeth E. Evans. Religion News Service. EarthBeat. November 4, 2021.
“At 22, This Young Activist Has Found Ways To Channel Her Eco-Anxiety Into Action”
By Emily Chan. Vogue. November 1, 2021.
“Prioritizing Mental Wellness in Climate Change Education”
By Nicole Howard. Climate XChange. October 28, 2021.
“SCPN Spotlight: Jerilyn Lopez Mendoza on Climate Activism and Making Space for Self-Care”
By Kortni Washington. Climate XChange. October 27, 2021.
“How to Reduce Eco-Anxiety and Make Positive Change”
By Ilan Kelman. Psychology Today. October 25, 2021.
“Glacier Funerals Offer a Way of Coping with Ecological Grief”
By Sasha Starovoitov. Columbia Climate School. September 24, 2021.
“How to Help Kids with Eco-Anxiety When ‘Fire Season’ Is A Thing”
By Brianne Hogan. She Knows. September 21, 2021.
“Specters of Sorrow: Eco-Grief, Ambiguous Loss, and Religious Creativity”
By Jacob J. Erickson. Counterpoint Knowledge. June 24, 2021.
“Living With Eco-Anxiety: Indians Tell Us About Their Climate Change-Induced Anxiety”
By Meghna Mathew. Homegrown. June 3, 2022.
“Why Emotionally Intelligent Climate Work Matters”
By Britt Wray. Gen Dread. January 6, 2021.
“COVID-19 Crisis Blog: Are we there yet? Beyond Apocalypse Fatigue and the New Normal”
By Jacob J. Erickson. Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin. May 26, 2020.
“A Climate Grief, Observed: Transforming Our Ecologies and Theologies of Magical Thinking”
By Jacob J. Erickson. Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs. April 16, 2020.
“Climate grief: How we mourn a changing planet”
By Panu Pihkala. BBC. April 2, 2020.
“So Your Kids Are Stressed Out About the Climate Crisis”
By Mary DeMocker. Sierra. January 25, 2020.
“How to Mourn a Glacier”
By Lacy M. Johnson. The New Yorker. October 20, 2019.
“The Rise of Eco-Anxiety”
By Lauren Dockett. Psychotherapy Networker. January/February 2019.
Videos:
Good Morning America. December 23, 2022.
Climate Crisis: What Is Eco-Anxiety And How To Deal With It?
India Today. November 27, 2022.
Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology Spotlights with Sam Mickey. November 21, 2022.
The One Show - BBC. November 1, 2022.
New York Times Events. October 21, 2022.
With Heather White. PIX 11 News. September 19, 2022.
With Lisa Verni, LCSW LLC. Deeptime Network. September 13, 2022.
With Kathleen Dean Moore and Bob Haverluck. Spring Creek Project. June 1, 2022.
Coping with ecoGrief: What It Is, How to Cope
With Hannah Malcolm. ecoAmerica. April 8, 2022.
Collective Trauma and Climate Change
With Pat McCabe. Pocket Project @ COP26. November 3, 2021.
Turning Eco-Anxiety into Eco-Action
Our Broken Planet. Natural History Museum. April 19, 2021.
How to turn climate anxiety into action
With Renée Lertzman. TEDWomen. December 2019.
Interview with Patricia Hasbach by Lauren Dockett. Psychotherapy Networker. February 11, 2019.
The Challenge of Climate Change
interview with Thomas Hübl by Brian Weinberg. March 27, 2018.
With Renée Lertzman. TEDWomen. December 2019.
Podcasts:
Podcast series with Thomas Doherty and Panu Pihkala
“How to Save A Planet”
Podcast series hosted by Alex Blumberg and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
“Outrage and Optimism”
Podcast series hosted by Christina Figueres, Tom-Rivett Carnac, and Paul Dickinson
“Climate and You”
Podcast series hosted by Domyo Burk
“What Could Possibly Go Right?”
Resilience podcast with Joanna Macy and Vicki Robin. October 25, 2022.
“Religion, Ecology, and the Future”
The Great Simplification podcast with Mary Evelyn Tucker and Nate Hagens. October 12, 2022.
“Environmental and climate change education, climate anxiety ahead of National Public Lands Day”
WGCU – PBS and NPR. September 20, 2022.
“Britain’s new PM, confronting eco-anxiety”
Green Biz. September 9, 2022.
“Seeds, Grief, and Memory”
With Rowen White. Finding Your Way. May 24, 2021.
“Tonglen for Eco-Anxiety”
Guided meditation with Dekila Chungyalpa. Center for Healthy Minds. University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Links:
Association of Nature & Forest Therapy
Post Doom
Eco-anxiety and Hope
Blog by Panu Pihkala
“Resources for working with climate emotions”
The All We Can Save Project. See also the “All We Can Save Circles.”
“Sukkot Eco-Grief Ritual: Spiritual Street Theater”
By Temple of the Stranger
Deep Adaptation Forum
Healing Circles Global
Certificate Program:
Online through the California Institute of Integral Studies
Syllabus:
Russel Powell. Boston College. Fall 2021.