We created this website to help you navigate the challenges of climate change. It is natural to feel sad, angry, anxious, and even scared about climate change. Sometimes, we may feel hopeless. In these cases, it is important to seek help from others that we trust (family, friends) and professionals (teachers, counsellors, psychologists) who are there to support us.
Reaching out to professionals is especially important if you have been feeling down for many weeks or months, or if it is greatly affecting you at home, school and other places that are important for you. Below, you will find some useful links to learn more about how our mental health and wellbeing can be affected by climate change and how to deal with it. You can also go to the Self-care Actions page for ideas for using your Climate Superpowers to protect your mental health and wellbeing.
You can also recommend these resources to friends or family members.
Resources designed for young people who are feeling distressed by climate change:
Talk Climate provides videos and music for young adults, and many resources on how to take care of your wellbeing and engage in climate action.
Ecoanxiety.com is a website developed by student Serena Adutt, to help young people learn about ecoanxiety and how to deal with it.
Climate Crisis Conversations is a podcast created by psychologists, and includes episodes where young activists also share their experiences dealing with stress and climate anxiety
Help for tough conversations about climate change:
If the reason you are not OK is that you do not feel that you can freely talk about climate change with others (especially those closest to you), you are not alone! While we cannot control other people’s actions, there are some tips that can help us prepare for those difficult conversations:
Talking about climate change, by Climate Action Australia (includes tips and videos!),
How to talk to family and friends about climate change, by Ocean Generation
How to talk to family and friends about climate change
How to have a connected conversation about climate change, by The Nature Conservancy Australia.
How to have a connected conversation about climate change
Free professional mental health support for young people:
If you feel that you need additional mental health support, contact your GP or school counsellor.
There are also free helplines (over the phone and chat) for children and young people:
Kids Helpline or 1800 55 1800
Beyond Blue or 1300 22 4636
HeadSpace has articles and interactive activities for young people on mental health and wellbeing
Resources for adults who support children and young people:
There are also some great resources for parents, teachers and other adults who want to support children and young people who are feeling anxious about climate change:
Emerging Minds: How to support children’s wellbeing in the face of climate change
HeadSpace
Supporting your young person experiencing anxiety about climate change
If you have been affected by a disaster, it is also very important that you focus on your self-care. To help you, Youth Views is a resource that was created by young people about their experiences coping after the Black Saturday Bushfires when they were children.