Guelph high school students find themselves commonly dealing with climate anxiety, a growing mental health phenomenon that can stand in the way of taking meaningful climate action.
Grade 12 students Indigo Moran and Abigail Walton are taking the issue head on by hosting Youth Climate Anxiety and Climate Action. With the support of a mental health therapist Samantha Hicks and Evan Ferrari from eMERGE Guelph Sustainability, the program is designed to help youth harness climate anxiety and work with it to take practical environmental action.
“Many of us in High School want climate action now, but are impacted by climate anxiety,” said Indigo Moran. They went on to say, “One study found that 84% of respondents aged 16 to 25 were at least moderately worried about climate change, and 45% said their concerns negatively impacted their daily life“.
Moran and Walton know that the way forward is to address the mental health aspect of the climate emergency and connect this distress with personal and societal action.
This five part program will work on climate anxiety, and provide climate action including tree planting and ‘seed bombing’, coupled with the opportunity to make societal change on a municipal and provincial level.
“We expect a big demand for the entire program and ask that youth aged 14 – 24 register as soon as possible” concluded Moran.
Register Here: Youth Climate Anxiety and Climate Action
Background:
Definition of Climate Anxiety
Mental Health Commission of Canada – Understanding and Coping with Eco-Anxiety
NIH – Psychology of climate anxiety
Earth.org – Explainer: What Is Climate Anxiety?
NRDC – It’s Time to Talk about Climate Anxiety
Explanation of Seed Bombing
Seed bombs are a combination of clay and wildflower seeds that can be distributed in a garden or field. They’re easy to make and an effective way to increase biodiversity in your area.
– Part 1 – COMPLETED September 20 – Workshop – Understanding and Working with Climate Anxiety
This workshop, kickstarted the project. It involved small and large group discussions surrounding how to cope with distress around the climate crisis. Participants also made seed bombs, and learned of tools for discussing climate anxiety and action with others in their lives.
– Part 2 – Tree Planting
Saturday Sept 28, 9:30am – 12:30pm – Norm Jary Park 22 Shelldale Crescent, Guelph
For this event, participants will plant trees with the guidance and experience of our friends at Trees for Guelph. This will be an active, collaborative form of follow-up climate action.
– Part 3 – Workshop
Monday October 21, 7:00pm – 9:00pm – 10C Shared Space, 42 Carden Street Guelph
This workshop, along with Part 4 and 5 workshops, will be follow-up meetings for those interested in the advocacy side of climate action. With the support of the mental health therapist and climate professional from the Part 1 workshop, the youth will plan practical activities for the coming months.
– Part 4 – Workshop
Monday November 4, 7:00pm – 9:00pm 10C Shared Space, 42 Carden Street Guelph
– Part 5 – Workshop
Monday November 18, 7:00pm – 9:00pm – 10C Shared Space, 42 Carden Street Guelph
Register Here: Youth Climate Anxiety and Climate Action
This program is supported by the Youth Climate Action Fund and eMERGE Guelph Sustainability
