Our Mental Health and Climate Change

This blog is a quick look into the climate and health work that C3 is conducting. We have started creating a short report on the intersections of climate and public health that will be released later this summer. For now, we wanted to share a short blurb on climate and mental health.

If you are worried about the future of our planet, you are not alone! Most Americans (64 percent, according to a recent study) worry about climate change. Today, on the last day of Mental Health Month, we wanted to write about it. 

Climate change impacts health directly and through shared underlying factors that worsen the climate crisis and poor health outcomes. At C3, we address dual climate change and public health threats by mitigating common root causes. 

Climate Anxiety

In the case of climate and mental health, these issues can manifest as long-term anxieties. The uncertainty that climate change brings to our future, paired with people’s feelings of hopelessness or inability to act, all contribute to climate anxiety (sometimes also referred to as “eco-anxiety”) in the U.S. 

Disaster Stress

Acute events like floods or fires can have lasting mental health impacts, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and stress from property loss. Climate disasters –such as heatwaves and storms– harm mental health and contribute to higher rates of psychological distress, especially among those with existing mental health conditions. 

At the Community Climate Collaborative (C3), we address climate anxiety by taking direct action in our community and promoting climate-positivity. It is our belief that stories of good can inspire and galvanize us as we work to tackle this global problem. There is so much good news and progress in the field of climate change every day, and you can check out positive climate stories on our Instagram (@c3climate)!

If you, or someone you know, struggles with mental health challenges, you can always seek help by reaching out to our local Region Ten, the Women’s Initiative, or consult Psychology Today’s mental health provider directory here. Eco-America has a great resource for action and advocacy on this topic.