The Excerpt SPECIAL | Eco-anxiety is on the rise
Jul 10, 2025
Caroline Hickman, a psychologist specializing in eco-anxiety and board member of the Climate Psychology Alliance, delves into the rising tide of anxiety among youth due to climate change. She discusses the emotional fallout from extreme weather events, like the catastrophic floods in Texas. Hickman highlights how eco-anxiety fuels frustration and activism in young people, especially intensified during the pandemic. She emphasizes the need for adults to support and validate these feelings, fostering communication and proactive approaches to cope with this mental health crisis.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Understanding Eco-Anxiety
- Eco-anxiety includes a range of emotional responses like anxiety, depression, and despair about climate change.
- It reflects a natural and mentally healthy reaction to worsening environmental conditions worldwide.
Eco-Anxiety Rising with Climate Change
- Eco-anxiety is rising due to increased climate disasters like fires and floods.
- Young people's mental health distress grows as the planet's physical condition worsens.
COVID Amplified Climate Anxiety
- Young people felt more eco-anxiety during COVID, increasing disappointment due to slow climate action.
- Global connectivity heightens empathy and shared distress about worldwide climate disasters.