Child and Adolescent Psychological Reactions to Climate Change: A Narrative Review Through an Existential Lens

Climate change and mental health and wellbeing: Reflections from a health geography lens

“…Inequities in mental health and wellbeing will likely stem from climate change, with some regions and populations considered more at risk than others (Cianconi et al., 2020). For example, children and youth are populations that are particularly at risk of the mental health and wellbeing impacts of climate change as they are undergoing many key physical and cognitive developmental changes, building a sense of their identity within the broader world, and lack the structural decision‐making power held by adults (Börner, 2023; Martin et al., 2022; McDonald‐Harker et al., 2021; Treble et al., 2023). That said, children and youth have been important drivers for change by implementing youth‐led actions, such as global demonstrations and court cases against government inaction (Chalifour et al., 2021; Stafford et al., 2023; Wallis & Loy, 2021).…”

“…Various theoretical and commentary papers exist outlining this relationship (see Berry et al., 2010; Charlson et al., 2021; Cianconi et al., 2020; Clayton et al., 2021; Cunsolo Willox et al., 2015; Palinkas & Wong, 2020). Generally, there are three pathways in which climate change is theorised to impact mental health and wellbeing: (i) direct, (ii) indirect, and (iii) overarching (see Hayes et al., 2018; Treble et al., 2023). These pathways are described below.…”

Growing Up in an Era of Storms and Stress—Promoting Hope Among Adolescents in the Face of Climate Change

“…Clinicians can encourage realistic hope through meaning-focused coping, which promotes positive reframing of stressful events to help tolerate negative emotions and has been associated with better mental health among youths . Traditional cognitive behavioral therapy approaches may not be sufficient to address eco-emotions because fears are based in reality, so alternative therapy approaches such as acceptance and commitment therapy and existential therapy may be good methods to support adolescents in the face of existential crises, although their evidence base for treating eco-emotions is limited . Furthermore, the health care workforce needs to engage in advocacy efforts such as discussing the effect of climate change on adolescent mental health with local leaders and urging the health care organizations where they work to go green …”

“…Climate change affects adolescent mental health via direct, indirect, and overarching pathways . Direct exposure to traumatic events can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, phobias, and substance abuse .…”

Age—Not Just a Number in Youth Mental Health

“…On the other hand, emergency department visits for youth with suicide attempts, which are less likely to be impacted by increased awareness or decreased stigma, have increased in recent years, suggesting that the increase in diagnoses of mental disorders in youth is not artifactual. Evidence also suggests that stressors such as social media and climate change (ie, ecoanxiety) may be impacting rates of depression.…”