Young people's mental health in a changing climate

Abstract

BackgroundThe climate is changing more rapidly than anticipated, making it the greatest existential threat of our time. Evidence suggests that climate change can be a source of poor mental health among young people. A variety of mental health issues, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are related to the anticipation and consequences of climate change-related events. Currently, there is a paucity of evidence regarding these effects on young people who are vulnerable to the mental health impacts of climate change. MethodsWe used a quantitative approach to explore the mental health impacts of climate change among young people aged 18–24 years. A secondary analysis of data from an Australian nationwide survey (n=5483) on the mental health impacts of climate change was completed. The survey included demographic questions and measures of the impact of climate change on mental health. Hierarchical regression, ANCOVA, and logistic regression were used to examine the relationship between age and the dependent variables (eco-anxiety, pre-trauma, and PTSD). An ANCOVA was run to identify significant differences in eco-anxiety between those who have and have not had a direct experience of the effects of climate change. FindingsAge was a significant predictor of eco-anxiety, pre-trauma, and PTSD, and young people (aged 18–24 years) reported significantly higher rates of eco-anxiety (odds ratio 8·31, 95% CI 4·83–14·28; p<0·0001), pre-trauma symptoms (10·38, 4·73–22·76; p<0·0001), and PTSD symptoms (2·54, 1·46–4·41; p=0·0010) than other age groups. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between the effects of direct experiences of climate change events and eco-anxiety (F=21·12; p<0·0001). InterpretationClimate-related poor mental health is a planetary health issue for young people in Australia. This research provides evidence of a significant link between climate change and young people's mental health. The health sector must re-orient mental health practice to manage the mental health impacts of climate change on young people. FundingInstitute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Australia.