mental health
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Young people are aging into a climate crisis with no clear roadmap
As climate anxiety shapes how young people imagine their future, experts say the antidote isn’t solo heroism — it’s collective care and connection.
In short:
- Climate anxiety is paralyzing many young people, not just because of climate change itself, but because they’re absorbing bleak news in isolating, overwhelming ways.
- Professor Sarah Ray says the key isn’t necessarily action, but shifting attention toward what we love and recognizing that love can fuel sustainable change.
- Group engagement, rather than individual action, is the most psychologically effective way to reduce anxiety and foster a sense of power.
Key quote:
"How can we expect these young people to do all the work we want them to do, to fix all the problems that are out there, if they don’t even want to exist in that future?"
— Sarah Ray, chair of environmental studies at Cal Poly Humboldt
Why this matters:
Mental health is health. Today’s younger generations are growing up in a world already grappling with the effects of global warming, inheriting a climate crisis that often feels too vast, too urgent, and too late to fix. But what’s crushing them isn’t just the heatwaves or the rising seas — it’s the mental toll of trying to care deeply in a culture that tells them it’s all on them. Understanding how collective action can reduce anxiety could help avoid a mental health crisis.
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Newsletter
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Rising climate anxiety is reshaping the mental health of young people
As climate disasters increase, young people worldwide are reporting unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and fear about the planet’s future.
In short:
- One study shows that nearly 60% of young people globally feel very or extremely worried about climate change, with many reporting impacts on daily functioning.
- Climate-related disasters correlate with long-term mental distress, particularly among teens who have experienced repeated severe weather events.
- Young people often feel ignored when discussing climate fears and are calling for adults to engage more openly and take responsibility.
Key quote:
“It’s the people who have contributed the least to the problem who are facing the challenge of dealing with the consequences.”
— Emma Lawrance, Climate Care Center lead at Imperial College London and study co-author
Why this matters:
Climate change is a growing public health crisis, especially for the young. The developing brains of children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to psychological distress, and the overwhelming exposure to climate-related disasters, dire predictions, and perceived adult inaction amplifies feelings of fear, helplessness, and anger. This distress can have long-term effects on mental health, academic performance, and social development. Researchers are documenting a surge in depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms tied directly to climate fears, with some young people reconsidering life choices such as having children. Lower-income and marginalized communities, often hardest hit by climate disasters, face additional mental health burdens due to fewer resources and support systems.
Related EHN coverage: How to address the looming crisis of climate anxiety
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Fixing clothes is becoming a quiet, powerful rebellion against fast fashion
A global movement of visible mending is transforming the simple act of repairing clothes into a personal and environmental statement.
In short:
- Groups like the Edinburgh Street Stitchers are embracing public mending as a way to reduce textile waste and spark conversations about overconsumption.
- The fashion industry emits more carbon than aviation and shipping combined; extending a garment’s life by nine months can cut its environmental footprint by up to 30%.
- Once viewed as outdated or elitist, mending is increasingly regarded as a social, inclusive act that fosters community and mental health while resisting fast fashion culture.
Key quote:
“People are becoming more aware that the way we produce is harmful to people and the environment. It’s a smaller, quieter form of activism that I think is really exciting.”
— Sam Bennett, partner with Repair Shop
Why this matters:
From city streets to living rooms, people are sitting down with worn-out jeans and torn sweaters, patching them not with shame, but with intention. Teaching people to repair instead of replace clothing offers a simple, tangible way to protect health and climate while building community in the process. But it’s also personal. Mending becomes meditation. It’s a chance to reclaim a sense of agency, connect with others, and heal in more ways than one.
Read more: I tried to sew a compostable stuffed animal for my friend’s newborn. It did not go well.
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Independent bookshops are helping people fight climate despair with the right stories
In the UK, three indie bookstores are blending climate action and storytelling to help readers find hope, connection, and purpose in the face of planetary crisis.
In short:
- Hold Fast, a floating bookstore in Leeds, curates books that connect readers with nature and personal action, offering everything from folklore to vegan cookbooks to inspire mindful living.
- FOLDE in Dorset is designed around sustainability, even running on 100% renewable energy, and helps customers find books that suit their emotional and activist needs, whether that’s soothing nature writing or books that empower political action.
- Edinburgh’s Lighthouse bookstore goes beyond the page by hosting events with grassroots organizers, supporting fossil-free publishing campaigns, and using books as a launchpad for collective activism.
Key quote:
“The way we see it, books are the starting points of action making and of change making.”
— Jessica Gaitán Johannesson, digital campaigns manager, Lighthouse Bookshop
Why this matters:
These British indie bookstores are rewriting what it means to be a sanctuary in the age of climate unraveling. They aren’t just places to thumb through a paperback and grab a quiet cup of tea — they’re building community, serving as an incubator for constructive action, and providing lifeboats for the eco-anxious, curated by booksellers who are part therapist, part activist, and part literary matchmaker.
Read more: Unconventional pathways to science with Dr. Katharine Hayhoe
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Newsletter
Rising heat in Australia is driving an alarming increase in mental health struggles
A sharp rise in temperatures linked to climate change is projected to drive up mental health disorders across Australia, with young people facing the highest risk by 2050.
In short:
- A peer-reviewed study from the University of Adelaide projects a nearly 50% increase in the burden of mental and behavioral disorders (MBDs) by 2050 due to rising temperatures.
- The Northern Territory faces the highest relative risk, while Victoria and South Australia carry the heaviest overall burden of heat-linked mental illness.
- Other studies echo the findings, with links between rising temperatures and increased youth suicidality, prompting experts to demand mental health be included in national heat preparedness plans.
Key quote:
“From mild distress to serious conditions like schizophrenia, rising temperatures are making things harder for millions.”
— Peng Bi, lead author of the study, University of Adelaide
Why this matters:
The link between extreme heat and mental illness is gaining attention as the climate crisis escalates. Studies show rising temperatures correlate with more emergency visits for psychiatric distress, mood disorders, and even suicide — especially among young people. Adolescents and young adults, who are already at high risk of mental health issues, face an added burden as climate instability disrupts routines, displaces communities, and fuels anxiety about the future. Despite growing evidence, mental health is still rarely integrated into climate adaptation plans.
Related EHN coverage: One of the most overlooked consequences of climate change? Our mental health
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California tribes rekindle ancient fire traditions to heal the land and themselves
After a century of U.S. fire suppression, California tribes are reviving cultural burns, low-intensity fires that nourish the land and reconnect communities to their roots.
In short:
- Indigenous-led cultural burns are making a comeback across Northern California, with state support and scientific backing showing their role in restoring ecosystems and reducing wildfire risks.
- These “good fires” don’t just clear brush — they revive native plants, support biodiversity, and reconnect tribal members, especially youth, to cultural practices and ancestral lands.
- Unlike Western fire suppression tactics, cultural burns are deeply relational, guided by observation, permission, and a belief in fire as a non-human relative and healer.
Key quote:
“Cultural fire is a way of returning to the landscapes we were once punished for stewarding. When we gather for a burn, we reclaim our place.”
— Melinda Adams, San Carlos Apache Tribe member and professor at the University of Kansas
Why this matters:
Indigenous-led cultural burns, once outlawed and suppressed, are finally getting recognition and support. And with them comes a powerful blend of ecological revival and cultural healing — a combination of science, tradition, and ceremony. In a state keen to prevent megafires and undo the damage of colonization, Indigenous firekeepers are quietly leading the way.
Read more from EHN: Hands on the land, heart in community: Returning cultural fires
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Texas oil boom fuels prosperity but leaves a deadly toll on workers and roads
The Permian Basin, now responsible for nearly half of U.S. oil output, is booming again, but its workforce is paying a deadly price, with over 30 oil workers and hundreds of motorists killed annually.
Part one of a four-part series.
In short:
- Deregulation and political support for “energy dominance” have accelerated production, worsening road congestion and toxic workplace hazards while allowing companies to sidestep safety measures.
- Fracking truck drivers, working grueling shifts with little oversight, often exceed legal driving hours, leading to deadly accidents.
- Industry efforts to address safety focus more on infrastructure expansion than worker protections.
Key quote:
“With more drilling comes incidents in the oil field, which then we have to respond to — whether it be an oil rig exploded, or a tank battery is on fire, or there’s an accident somewhere.”
— Austin Harden, West Odessa volunteer fire chief
Why this matters:
Texas’ oil boom comes at a steep cost — worker exploitation, rising road fatalities, and overlooked health risks from exposure to toxic chemicals. While fossil fuel profits soar, communities are left to deal with the consequences, with first responders calling it a crisis of life and death.
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