As its Mental Health Week in the United Kingdom- and ‘eco-anxiety’ is a topic that has arisen
Medical News Today states :
“Eco-anxiety refers to a fear of environmental damage or ecological disaster. This sense of anxiety is largely based on the current and predicted future state of the environment and human-induced climate change.
According to a 2018 national survey, almost 70% of people in the United States are worried about climate change, and around 51% feel “helpless.”
Anxiety around environmental issues may stem from the awareness of a rising risk of extreme weather events, losses of livelihood or housing, fears for future generations, and feelings of helplessness.
Here is a blog by our friend Lucy McRobert
“Eco-anxiety is defined as a chronic fear of ecological and environmental disaster. People are becoming more anxious about the impacts of climate change; this is filtering down to children and teenagers and can cause stress and worrying, anxiety and associated conditions….
First, remember that eco-anxiety is a completely natural response to the changing world around us. These are issues that our children need to understand and comprehend, but we can help them manage that in a way that protects their mental health. Here’s some simple ways that we can support our children with eco-anxiety.
- DO listen, and then talk
DON’T close down the conversation or deny that climate change is a problem
It’s a natural instinct to protect our children, to shield them for difficult conversations until they’re old enough to understand them fully. However, social media and easy access to the internet mean that we can’t protect our children all the time. Rather than leaving them to go down internet-rabbit-holes and be overwhelmed with fatalist content that terrifies them, the first step is to listen to them and hear them. Ask them what they know about issues like wildlife loss and climate change, how they feel about them, and what they understand. Listen to their questions and, if you don’t know the answers, try researching them together.
NORMALISING THESE CONVERSATIONS WILL HELP YOUR CHILDREN TURN TO YOU, RATHER THAN THE INTERNET OR SOCIAL MEDIA, IF THEY ARE SCARED OR OVERWHELMED.
- DO empower them
DON’T take the responsibility away from them
Children will have a roll to play in the future of our planet, and children that grow up caring about it are more likely to take meaningful action for it when they’re older. They need to understand the limitations of their own power and what’s beyond their control; but there are also things that they can do to help. Focus on those things and emphasise the difference that they are making. This could be cutting down their plastics; encouraging them to play with wooden, recycled or second-hand toys; discouraging a throwaway culture; choosing clothes from charity shops; eating foods grown locally that produce little waste; doing litter picks; growing their own food; walking or cycling to school rather than asking for lifts; and so on. They could also give talks at their school or read stories about teen activists, who could be role models.
ENCOURAGING YOUR CHILDREN TO TAKE POSITIVE ACTIONS THAT HELP THE ENVIRONMENT WILL MAKE THEM FEEL MORE CONFIDENT, SECURE AND HOPEFUL.
- DO lead by example
DON’T undermine their actions with your own
Your child will feel more secure if they see you taking your own actions to help wildlife and minimise your impact on the planet. When you take positive actions, tell your children and help them feel involved: this could be booking a local holiday rather than going abroad; cutting down your meat consumption and create vegetarian meals together; buying an electric car rather than petrol; switching to a green energy provider; or walking to the shops rather than driving. Let them see you shopping for second-hand clothes and using plastic-free products. Explaining why you’re making these changes can make the world of difference. Make greener political choices and explain politicians and their policies to older kids.
REMEMBER, WHILST ECO-ANXIETY IS VERY SCARY, IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE. DON’T TAKE AWAY THEIR FEARS, BUT BALANCE THEM WITH HOPE, EMPOWERMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL PART OF A WIDER MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE (including you!) WHO ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO SAVE THE WORLD.”
Actions we can take to begin to counter eco-anxiety….
* get close to nature – go for walks, bike rides etc
* limit screen time
* share environmental news – join an environmental group with a magazine with good news articles
* do something practical – create a nature corner, plant a tree ….. A separate post about environmental actions in Ipswich
