Everyone has read the stories and seen the images. A life-threatening heatwave. An unprecedented wildfire. Record-breaking storms swept away entire neighborhoods. Melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and coastal flooding.
as california wildfires As the cold season continues and hurricane survivors sort through the ruins left behind by floods, let’s talk about the mental well-being of young, under-reported victims of climate change.
An early but growing body of research shows that the majority of adolescents and young adults in the United States and abroad feel anxious and worried about the effects of an unstable climate on their current and future lives. We know that
14-year-old Abby Rafiq is worried about the effects of climate change both near and far from her home. “It’s definitely affected my life because it’s stressful to think about the future and how much worse the planet will be if we don’t deal with this as a society now.” says Abby, a high school student living in America. gardena, california, City of 58,000 people Approximately 25 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
She says wildfires are a particular concern for her. “It’s a bigger problem for me personally because it’s closer to where I live. It also causes a lot of damage to the surrounding area,” she says. “And the air will be disturbed.”
In April, Abby surveyed children ages 12 to 17 about climate change during a visit to the emergency room at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
(Barbara Davidson of the Washington Post)
Ramy Assaf, a pediatric emergency physician at the hospital, adapted the study from a survey developed for adults five years ago. he managed his version Last year, it served more than 800 children ages 12 to 17 and their parents. He said early results show that climate change is a cause for serious concern for the mental safety and wellbeing of young people.
Assaf followed up with the children and asked them more open-ended questions, such as whether they believed climate change would be solved in their lifetime. How do you feel when you read about extreme weather events? What do they think about the future of the earth? and someone you can talk to about your concerns.
“If you ask them about their future prospects, the first words they will say are helpless, hopeless, and hopeless,” Assaf says. “This is a very strong emotion.”
Assaf said he would like to see questions about climate change included in mental health exams at pediatricians’ offices and other settings where children receive medical care. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends: Climate change counseling It is allowed to be incorporated into pediatricians’ clinical practice and medical school curricula, but not specifically when it comes to mental health screening.
Assaf said fears about climate change intersect with a broader mental health crisis among young people, which has been marked by increases in depression, loneliness and suicide over the past decade, but with recent signs of It is said that it will be seen. it may be improving Slightly.
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a 2022 Harris Poll It found that 89 percent of 1,500 U.S. teenagers think about the environment regularly, and that “the majority feel more anxious than hopeful.” Furthermore, 69% said they were concerned that they or their families would be affected by climate change in the near future. Additionally, 82% said they expected to have to make important life decisions, such as where to live and whether to have children, based on the state of their environment.
And its impact is clearly not limited to the United States. 2021 survey The survey polled 10,000 16- to 25-year-olds in 10 countries and found that 59% were very or extremely concerned about climate change, and 84% were at least moderately concerned.
Susan Clayton, dean of the psychology department at the University of Wooster in Ohio, said anxiety about climate change may be more pronounced among young people than adults. “Older people have grown up without being as aware or thinking about climate change, so there are still hurdles to overcome before they can accept that climate change is real.” says Clayton, who co-authored the book. Climate change research for adults Asaph was adapted for young people.
In contrast, “youth grew up seeing it as real,” Clayton said. “Knowing that a large part of your life is ahead of you gives you a whole different perspective on what your life will be like.”Furthermore, young people in particular They feel betrayed by the government because they believe it is not taking the issue seriously enough, adding: “This feeling of betrayal is linked to larger concerns about the climate.”
Abby believes climate change is not being tackled with enough resolve. “I think if we can figure out how to live on Mars and explore the deep ocean, we can definitely find a way to live here in a healthy environment,” she says.
Is fear about climate change an urgent problem or a luxury?
If you’re a parent whose children are showing signs of climate anxiety, you can help.
Louise Chawla, professor emeritus in the environmental design program at the University of Colorado Boulder, says the most important thing is to listen in an open-ended way. “Create a space for kids to express their emotions. Just listen to them and let them know that it’s safe to express these emotions,” says co-founder of the nonprofit organization says one chawla growing up boulderwe encourage children to participate in civic activities, including working with schools in the city to help shape the local environment.
Chawla and colleagues recommend family activities that strengthen environmental efforts. It can be something as simple as walking or riding a bike, or participating in a cleaning or recycling activity. Also, encourage your children to get involved in activities and advocacy organized by environmental, civic, or religious groups.
By working together with others, children can be reassured that they are not alone and that they can be proactive, and can alleviate stress and feelings of helplessness.
Vicki Mays, a professor of psychology and health policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, who teaches classes on climate change and mental health, said concerns about climate change may lead some children to change their path in life. should be viewed as a learning opportunity that may even lead to further development. 1 of 8 similar courses It was recently offered on the University of California campus.
“We need to get out of the habit of saying, ‘It’s all about mental health,'” Mays says. situation. ”
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