Community in Focus: Health and Wellness

Climate Crisis and the Rise of Eco-Anxiety

Eco-anxiety is growing, particularly among children and young people, and is damaging to individuals and society, according to a 2021 British Medical Journal opinion piece by public health experts. Eco-anxiety has been described by the American Psychiatric Association as the chronic fear of environmental doom. Although not yet considered a diagnosable condition, there is a growing recognition of eco-anxiety and its complex psychological responses and of the disproportionate impacts on children, young people, and communities with the least resources to overcome the adverse consequences of the climate crisis.

The best chance of increasing optimism and hope is to ensure eco-anxious people have access to reliable and accurate information on climate mitigation and adaptation, especially information on how they could connect more strongly with nature, contribute to greener choices at an individual level, and join forces with like-minded communities and groups.

Source: British Medical Journal