SuppliedClimate change can have a complex influence on mental wellness, in both direct and indirect ways, according to Breanne Aylward. Aylward, a graduate research assistant at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health, said media outlets need to focus more on these impacts, as well as coping strategies.
Experiencing weather and climate extremes — such as wildfires, hurricanes, and floods — can be very stressful, according to Aylward. It can lead to higher levels of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Aylward said. Additionally, she said there can be a mental impact from seeing or hearing about these events, either in the news or from loved ones who are affected.
Aylward’s research into climate change and mental health news coverage was sparked by personal experience.
“I started to hear some narratives about climate change and climate doomism, climate anxiety, and ecological grief,” Aylward said. “I wanted to understand how we could better address those concerns.”
”We need broader systemic changes,” Aylward says
In June 2024, Aylward published a study in the journal Environmental Research: Health. It investigated news coverage on “climate-mental health” outcomes in Canada and the United States between 2016 to 2020.
About 50 per cent of articles referenced in Aylward’s study identified coping strategies. These include behaviours such as attending therapy, climate activism, and reducing personal carbon emissions.
“We know that those are really important actions to take, but we also need broader systemic changes,” Aylward said.
“We haven’t seen as much research that’s looking on, what can we actually do? What are those effective coping strategies and protective factors?”
An effective coping strategy for ecological grief and anxiety is having more peer support in community spaces, according to Aylward. These groups are often called “climate cafés,” where you can connect with a supportive group of people that understand your experience.
Additionally, it is crucial for researchers to communicate their findings, Aylward said. She gave examples of going to the media, giving public talks, creating podcasts, or lecturing at schools and universities. In doing so, it’s also important to frame issues in ways that resonate with people to motivate them to take action, she said.
“It’s really [about] creating a lot of different ways to share your findings with different audiences.”
