Beyond Eco-Anxiety: How Climate Change Contributes To Depression & Grief

"Eco-anxiety" has become a catchall term to describe feelings about a warming world—but new research reinforces that climate change incites a range of complex emotions beyond anxiety. After reviewing the growing body of research on climate and mental health, a team out of Italy concluded that having a higher level of perception and awareness of climate change tends to correlate with a higher risk of depression, stress, adjustment disorder, substance use, and grief—as well as lower well-being and resilience. This highlights the urgent need for climate-informed therapists, especially in communities that are most vulnerable.

Shinrin-yoku, or "forest bathing," is the Japanese philosophy of slowly and mindfully strolling through the forest. And it's been associated with some pretty impressive benefits—from short-term stress relief2 to longer-term improvements in immune function3. A new study guided a cohort of 15 people who could really use these perks—medical residents—through shinrin-yoku to see whether the experience changed how they approach their work and patient care. Sure enough, the residents reported feeling more calm and creative and less anxious and depressed following the forest foray.

As air pollution increases across much of the world, more research is digging into its human cost. A disturbing new systematic review in Current Environmental Health Reports found that ubiquitous pollutants like particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide seem to negatively impact children's cognitive abilities. Some studies have even found that air pollution exposure is associated with alterations in brain structure and function that can extend into adulthood. As such, researchers call for policies that focus on decreasing air pollution and traffic noise around schools.

The Current Environmental Health Reports review also suggested increasing green space around schools, which can be a boon to children's mental health. It may help out with their ability to process emotions (like, say, those topsy-turvy ones about climate change) in a healthy way too. Separate research recently found that young kids who have access to more green space are less likely to exhibit "internalizing behavior," or keep their problems and emotions bottled up.

Meditation has never come easily to me, and I've struggled to get in the groove of a consistent practice. But recently, psychologist Nina Smiley, Ph.D., showed me a quick way to infuse more mindfulness into my daily walks, and it's had a powerful impact on my stress levels.