We are still unraveling the effect of climate change on the mental health of individuals, particularly in the form of eco-anxiety felt by young people wondering if they will be able to to repair the extensive damage caused by their planetary predecessors.
At COP28, the UN hosted the event’s inaugural Health Day and made a public declaration that sounded the alarm about the health implications of climate change. It promised “a comprehensive response to address the impacts of climate change on health, including, for example, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing”.
But declarations have historically been part of the problem. For the young climate activists in attendance at COP28, there has been a frustration that the approach of politicians has been one of characterized by plenty of talk, but little action.
University College Cork student Dearbhla Richardson is among the youth delegates who has travelled to Dubai and revealed that she has consistently struggled with her mental health as a result of the climate crisis.
“I have anxiety and grief for our collective future,” Dearblha tells Livehealthy. “I think the only positive thing that I’ve found from COP is that there is space for collective grief. There is also hope that comes from sharing that together.
“You feel very alone when you’re doing work in your own community, because there are only ever a handful of people are doing it. But when you come to the negotiations like this, you see the number of people who are putting work in, so you feel a lot less lonely. And you do get some hope from that.”
At Dearlha’s university, a programme called Green Shoots has been implemented to connect students with green spaces in a bid to improve their mental wellbeing. It is a useful short-term fix but should be replaced with concrete solutions to the climate crisis, according to eighteen-year-old Aliya Hirji, who says young people feel let down.
“I think mental health is a big problem within the youth climate community and also something that I’ve struggled with a lot,” she explains. “The night before I left for COP28, I had a breakdown and was feeling very overwhelmed by the unambitious ambitious draft papers and all the fossil fuel lobbying here.
“It’s very difficult for a lot of young people to feel hopeful and it’s much easier to be overwhelmed and defeated — to feel angry and upset with the state of the world, the fact our leaders not taking action.”
For 21-year-old South African Raeesah Noor-Mahomed, the climate crisis has exacerbated existing mental health problems while also providing an important outlet.
“I’ve always had really bad mental health struggles,” Raeesah shares. “I have clinical anxiety, depression, ADHD, and I was diagnosed as bipolar this year as well. With the climate crisis too, everything just seems so terrible.
“When I began my activism it was out of desperation and honestly, it has saved my life because I have been part of something, part of a movement. I find other people who feel the same and are also fighting and seeing other people who care so much and care so deeply, gives me a lot of hope.
“However being at COP is difficult because you feel physically ignored by those in power. We are here in person but we’re made to feel like we are not. The negotiations feel empty and they are not engaging us enough.”
Despite all three activists struggling with the enormity of the climate crisis and the inaction of politicians, Aliya insists she tries hard to search for silver lining amid a gloomy outlook.
“Coming to events like COP28 helps you find these very beautiful communities that are full of hope and optimism,” she adds. “As young people we are so often frustrated but we are also willing, and actively trying, to do something to change it.”
Aliya keeps a reminder from African-American political activist Angela Davis on her phone for inspiration. The quote that reads: “It is in collectives that we find reservoirs of hope and optimism”.
She looks at it every morning when she wakes up.
“It helps me recenter and remind me that the science is on our side, and we do have a chance to make an impact.”
These attempts to focus on the positives are vital according to Dr Sanae Okamoto, a psychologist and behavioural scientist who works for the United Nations University in Maastricht (UNU-MERIT). Dr Okamoto works closely with the UN to better understand the long-term impacts of eco-anxiety on young people.
“The first thing to say is that it is very normal and very understandable that they feel so overwhelmed, so scared, so anxious about climate change,” Dr Okamoto explains to Livehealthy. “It is fine to feel the anger and the frustration, but it is important that people find a safe environment to share these feelings.
“Collective discussion and collective action are really important. Actively engaging in climate initiatives can give people more of a sense of control and purpose and can be extremely empowering. It creates solidarity that then you feel you are not alone, that you are part of something and facing this challenge all together.
“If the situation persists to the extent that a person cannot focus on schoolwork or cannot sleep or cannot eat or cannot enjoy fun activities, then it is time to talk to a licenced professional immediately.”
Last year the World Health Organisation released a report that focused on the negative impact that climate change is having on young people’s mental health, both in areas that have been physically affected and those that haven’t.
“There’s another issue here in that the places that are prone to natural disasters are often the places with less institutionalized healthcare,” Dr Okamoto says. “People’s lives are changing dramatically but there isn’t the mental health support to help them through it.
“When this happens, community becomes so important and we are seeing some great approaches among indigenous communities to create support systems and help build psychological resilience, but it is a big challenge.”
This community-centric approach is certainly prevalent at COP28. Moroccan activist Saad Uakkas is the program coordinator of the Children and Youth Pavilion, a safe space for young people to come and talk about their worries and enter into substantial climate dialogue. He also believes that community is central to improving mental health.
“The pavilion is here to offer young people the chance to interact with each other, to share their innovations, their solutions, and support each other,” Saad says. “This is a little sign of hope, when you see each other doing stuff in their communities, the small actions that are helping people to survive and to cope with climate change.
“We also try to also create collections between young people and stakeholders like funders, people from the UN and governments so they can also have a support system from adults as well. Without doubt the biggest thing these young people want is to be heard and we are here to tell them it is possible and that they are not alone.”
