resources

crisis support

In critical distress?

In Australia, you can call LifeLine (13 11 14), or Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) if you need to speak to someone about your experience. Not in Aus? Make sure to reach out to someone; google is your friend for finding crisis support counselling.

climate psychology groups

Also in Australia, the Psychology for a Safe Climate website is really useful, and the Climate Wellbeing Network also great. In the UK, you have the wonderful Climate Psychology Alliance, and in the USA, the Climate Psychiatry Alliance.

climate anxiety/grief resources

Check out the Good Grief Network; the Gen Dread newsletter; Sarah Jaquette Ray’s A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety; this toolkit from UTS researchers for students and teachers. Is This How You Feel and Eco-Anxious Stories will help you know you’re not alone. Joanna Macy has been doing The Work that Reconnects for decades. Extinction Rebellion has a Regenerative Culture workbook. The Commons Library has a list of resources.

how to talk about climate change/distress

Rebecca Huntley’s book, How to Talk About Climate Change in a Way that Makes a Difference, is really helpful. In Australia, Climate for Change will help you have conversations with your friends and family. Carbon Conversations in the UK offers a similar approach. Climate Outreach has a great guide. This blog on how to speak-with and listen to those struggling with climate anxiety is really wise.

what to do about climate change?

There are hundreds of lists of things we can do about climate change, but Katherine Wilkinson’s 5 step methodology is invaluable for helping work out what each individual can contribute to the global effort. All We Can Save is a fabulous book focused on hope and solutions, written by over 60 women.

for educators

Check out the Existential Toolkit for climate justice educators; stay tuned for their book with activities and tips. Astrida Neimanis and Jen Hamilton’s Field Guide for Weathering is fantastic. Climate Change Theatre Action’s plays can make or inspire great classroom activities. The All We Can Save book and project has great resources. This news article I wrote summarises a survey of environmental educators on how they approach this.

classroom activities

Worksheets coming soon…

on the politics of ecological distress

This blog by Christine Winter and Jakelin Troy on Indigenous Justice in Times of Crisis, and this one by Sarah Jaquette Ray about the whitness of most discussions of climate anxiety help bring a critical perspective to these issues. Eleanor Cummins critiques ‘wellness’ responses to climate anxiety. Adrienne Matei discusses how unexamined climate anxiety can fuel eco-fascism.

tips for personally managing climate anxiety

Here are some tips for managing climate distress, thanks to friends and students over the years who have helped the list come together:

  • Find someone you feel able to talk to about this, and talk to each other. Practice active listening.

  • Make sure to create spaces of joy, pleasure and fun in your life, and with others.

  • Regulate your information/stimulation intake: e.g. don’t watch documentaries or the news if you don’t need/want to; get off social media

  • Manage your social connections: keep in touch with friends/family/community groups; foster some valuable and supportive relationships while perhaps letting negative/damaging ones fade (or even actively cutting them off)

  • Physical comforts: e.g. healthy/tasty food; massages; blankets on the couch

  • Meditation: e.g. yoga, nature based meditation, generally being mindful

  • Set boundaries: e.g. if possible, timetable when you will engage with climate change/environmental issues and when you won’t; take a break or step back when needed

  • Be grateful for what you do have and value, and take time out to note this and celebrate the beauty around you

  • Engage in artistic, creative practices

  • Keep up the exercise

  • Keep up with your hobbies and other things that bring you pleasure

  • Spend time in nature (if its safe to do so and you have access)

  • Get enough sleep and rest

  • Ensure you believe what you do (in regards to climate action) is the most effective use of your time/energy/personal skills

  • Engage with your emotions productively, and in safe spaces

  • See a professional: maybe a psychologist, meditation teacher, or other useful professional

  • Check in with like minded others (friends, colleagues, peers) and talk with them about how you are all feeling

  • Develop strategies to “switch off” or “distance” yourself when appropriate

  • Pay attention to when you are engaging empathy (feeling how you imagine others might feel) and when you are engaging in compassion (wanting to help others), and reflecting on when compassion might be more useful than empathy

  • Find some good news stories

Know something great that should be here? Get in touch.