High temperatures and climate emergencies lead to a surge in eco-anxiety cases

The climate crisis is not only having physical and environmental effects as it is also generating an impact on the mental health of the population, especially among young people and those who are more environmentally aware. This is why psychologists and psychiatrists see more people with eco-anxiety in times of extreme temperatures, whether in summer or winter, and on specific occasions when there are severe bouts of inclement weather. Doom-and-gloom reports and dire long-term forecasts also play a major role, prompting uncertainty and increasing the feeling of loss of control.  

June and July have been especially challenging in these terms: there have been record temperatures all over the country, with reports predicting that they will reach 50º C in the future; wildfires have devastated over 4,000 hectares in total in el Baix Ebre, la Segarra, la Noguera, l’Anoia and el Pallars Jussà; and torrential rain has led to shocking images such as at the hospital in Vilafranca del Penedès, which has been out of operation for a while. 

What is eco-anxiety?

Eco-anxiety is the distress caused by fear of environmental cataclysm as a result of climate change. It is a fear that triggers concern and uncertainty about your own future and the future of humanity as a whole and can lead to serious difficulties in coping with everyday life. 

Who is most prone to having eco-anxiety? 

The people most vulnerable to climate anxiety are young people, people with a history of emotional discomfort and those who are particularly environmentally aware. However, professionals warn that “we should not succumb to stereotypes or biases." Laura Sánchez, a clinical psychologist at the Ciutat Vella Adult Mental Health Centre (CSMA) run by Parc Sanitari Joan de Déu says that "discomfort and anxiety about the climate situation can appear in very diverse profiles and in ways that are not always visibleShe points out that it is essential to "be open, empathetic and attentive to identify potential judgements when dealing with any person who shows discomfort."  

How can it be prevented? 

Uncertainty about what is to come is evidence of the inability to control everything and "learning to deal with this limitation is an important part of the process of adapting" to the new climate paradigm. 

Psychologist Laura Sánchez lists several practical strategies which can be built into everyday life to better manage climate anxiety:
   

1. Take part in local or community actions such as park cleanups, tree planting, recycling campaigns or urban gardens which allow you to feel useful and part of a solution.   
2. Connect with nature: spend time outdoors or in green spaces.   
3. Restrict exposure to news and social media to avoid information overload and a feeling of pessimism. 
4. Encourage social connection and venues for discussion and emotional support: Attend local groups, workshops or talks where concerns and emotions related to climate change can be expressed.  
5. Accept your own contradictions: recognise that we cannot always do everything we would like to do to protect the planet and that it is okay to have limitations. Accepting these contradictions can help reduce guilt and stress.   

The most important thing, argues Sánchez, is “finding a balance between worrying about the future and living in the present"and in this," she says, "mental health professionals and the network around and supporting the distressed person can help."