Climate change is no longer a distant issue for children and young adults. Many are growing up with a constant stream of news about wildfires, floods, heatwaves and political inaction. Alongside this, parents, carers and clinicians are seeing more climate-related worry, sadness and fear in young people’s lives.
This emotional response is often described as eco-anxiety. Understanding eco-anxiety, how it can mimic the signs and symptoms of depression, and what helps young people cope is essential for anyone who cares about child and adolescent mental health.
What Is Eco-Anxiety?
Eco-anxiety is a term used to describe distress linked to environmental damage and the climate crisis. It can include:
- Persistent worry about the future of the planet
- Fear about extreme weather or natural disasters
- Sadness and grief about species loss and ecosystem damage
- Anger or betrayal when leaders fail to act
Eco-anxiety is not, in itself, a mental health disorder. In healthy amounts, it can be adaptive and even protective. Feeling worried about climate change can motivate people to change habits, join community projects or advocate for policy change. Problems arise when eco-anxiety becomes overwhelming, constant or paralysing, and begins to overlap with clinical anxiety or depression.
How Eco-Anxiety Shows Up in Children and Young People
A large systematic review of 69 studies from around the world found that eco-anxiety in young people is shaped by a mix of social, political and geographic factors. Although the research is still developing, several consistent patterns emerged.
Age and developmental stage
Eco-anxiety tends to rise from early adolescence into young adulthood. Older teenagers and young adults are more likely than younger children to:
- Understand the scale and urgency of the climate crisis
- Link it to their own future, career and family plans
- Engage deeply with climate news and activism
Longitudinal studies suggest that climate worry often increases through the teenage years, peaks in the early twenties, then may level off slightly. This pattern likely reflects maturing cognitive skills, a stronger sense of identity and growing awareness of social injustice.
Gender differences
Across many countries, girls and young women report higher levels of eco-anxiety than boys and young men. They are more likely to say they are very worried about climate change and less likely to say they are not worried at all.
Several factors may explain this:
- Social norms that encourage girls to be emotionally expressive and caring
- A greater sense of responsibility for caregiving and future generations
- Higher overall rates of anxiety and depression in adolescent girls
In clinical practice, this means that eco-anxiety in young women can sit alongside or intensify depressive symptoms. When assessing the signs and symptoms of depression in this group, it is important to ask how climate concerns are shaping mood, energy and hope for the future.
Socioeconomic context
Socioeconomic position is linked with eco-anxiety in complex ways. Studies suggest that:
- Young people from more educated or affluent families often report higher eco-anxiety, possibly because they receive more information about climate science and have more space to reflect on these issues.
- Young people living in disadvantaged areas or high-risk regions may experience climate distress alongside direct impacts such as heat stress, crop loss or damaged housing.
For some, eco-anxiety is rooted in awareness and moral concern. For others, it is tied to daily survival and a lack of resources to adapt. Both can intersect with low mood, hopelessness and anxiety.
Media exposure
Many young people learn about climate change primarily through digital media. The review found that:
- Frequent exposure to climate-related news, especially doom-focused headlines and dramatic imagery, is often associated with higher climate worry and eco-anxiety.
- Social media can amplify distress through constant feeds about disasters, political failures and polarised debate.
- At the same time, online platforms can offer connection, community and inspiration, particularly in youth climate movements.
For some adolescents, this avalanche of information becomes one of many stressors feeding into low mood, sleep problems and concentration difficulties. These can easily be mistaken for purely depressive symptoms, although climate distress is part of the picture.
Peer culture, family and intergenerational trust
Young people rarely experience eco-anxiety in isolation. Their relationships and cultural context play a crucial role.
- Intergenerational tensions: Many young people describe feeling let down by older generations who they see as having caused or ignored the crisis. This sense of betrayal can deepen anger, sadness and hopelessness.
- Future family planning: Some young adults, particularly women, report eco-anxiety when considering whether to have children. They worry about bringing children into an uncertain, potentially unsafe world.
- Peer norms: Supportive peer groups can normalise eco-anxiety and channel it into constructive action. In contrast, ridicule or denial from peers or family can intensify distress and isolation.
For clinicians and caregivers, these dynamics are important when thinking about how to help someone with depression whose mood is tightly tied to climate fears and family relationships.
Political and Geographic Drivers of Eco-Anxiety
Distrust and government inaction
One of the strongest themes across studies is a sense of distrust in political leaders and institutions. Many young people feel:
- Ignored in climate decision-making
- Angry that short-term economic interests are prioritised over long-term planetary health
- Betrayed when climate promises are broken or watered down
This lack of trust can fuel feelings of helplessness, cynicism and existential worry. For some, it becomes entwined with broader depressive thinking, such as “nothing will ever change” or “the future is pointless.”
Direct exposure to climate hazards
Young people who have lived through wildfires, floods, storms or drought often show higher levels of climate distress and eco-anxiety. Experiences described in the review include:
- Fear of repeat disasters when it rains or during fire season
- Grief over damaged homes, landscapes or community spaces
- Increased nightmares, hypervigilance and avoidance of reminders
These reactions can overlap with post-traumatic stress, generalised anxiety and depression. When young people present with trauma symptoms, it is important to ask about the environmental context as well as more traditional life events.
Climate-vulnerable regions and urban–rural differences
Young people in countries and regions already experiencing severe climate impacts, such as parts of Africa, Asia and low-lying island states, tend to report higher climate worry and distress. However, urban–rural patterns vary:
- In some high-income countries, urban youth show more eco-anxiety, possibly due to greater media exposure and activism.
- In some lower-income settings, rural youth report intense concern linked to direct impacts on agriculture, water and livelihoods.
These differences highlight that eco-anxiety is not a “one size fits all” experience. It must be understood through local culture, economy and environment.
Eco-Anxiety and Depression: Where They Overlap
Eco-anxiety often coexists with or contributes to mental health conditions, particularly anxiety and depression. The review, along with other research, suggests that intense climate distress can be linked with:
- Low mood and loss of interest in usual activities
- Persistent feelings of despair about the future
- Sleep problems and nightmares about environmental disasters
- Difficulty concentrating on school or work
- Feelings of guilt, shame or responsibility for the crisis
These can look very similar to the signs and symptoms of depression. The key difference is that eco-anxiety is grounded in a real, external threat. Young people are often very clear that their worries are not irrational. Instead of pathologising those feelings, it is helpful to:
- Validate that their distress makes sense in context
- Assess severity, duration and impact on daily life
- Screen for other mental health concerns such as generalised anxiety, trauma or suicidal thoughts
When eco-anxiety sits on top of an existing depressive disorder, both need attention. In some cases, climate concerns may influence how a young person experiences depression medication side effects. For example, they may feel guilty about the environmental impact of pharmaceutical production or healthcare systems, or worry that taking medication means they are “numbing themselves” to urgent global issues. Sensitive, open conversation can help address these fears.
Supporting a Young Person With Eco-Anxiety
Whether you are a parent, teacher, friend or health professional, there are practical steps you can take to support a young person whose climate distress is affecting their wellbeing.
1. Listen, validate and name the feeling
Young people frequently report feeling dismissed when adults brush off their worries as “overreacting” or “too sensitive.” A more helpful approach is to:
- Invite them to share what they have seen or heard about climate change
- Reflect back their feelings using words like “worried,” “sad,” “angry” or “afraid”
- Normalise eco-anxiety as a reasonable response to learning about global risks
This kind of validation can soften self-blame and reduce loneliness, which are common ingredients in both eco-anxiety and depression.
2. Balance information and boundaries with media
Completely shielding young people from climate information is neither realistic nor desirable. Instead, aim for balance:
- Encourage regular “media breaks,” especially before bedtime
- Seek out sources that also highlight solutions, resilience and positive change
- Co-watch or co-read and then discuss, rather than leaving them to process alarming content alone
Many families also find it helpful to agree simple, age-appropriate boundaries around social media use, so climate content is not the last thing a young person sees before sleep or the first thing they encounter on waking.
3. Connect eco-anxiety to healthy coping, not avoidance
Like other forms of anxiety, eco-anxiety can lead to unhelpful avoidance, such as shutting down conversations or refusing to make plans for the future. Gently encouraging active coping is more protective. Helpful strategies include:
- Talking regularly about climate feelings at home, school or in peer groups
- Practising basic stress management skills such as breathwork, grounding and physical activity
- Spending time in nature, which can restore a sense of connection and calm
These approaches mirror many natural remedies for depression, such as exercise, time outdoors, structured routines and social connection. While they are not a stand-in for professional treatment when depression is moderate or severe, they can reduce overall emotional load and support resilience.
4. Support meaningful action without overburdening
Taking action is one of the most powerful antidotes to helplessness. The review found that young people who engage in climate activism often feel more empowered and hopeful. However, activism can also be emotionally intense and exhausting.
Adults can help young people:
- Choose manageable actions, such as a school project, local campaign or household changes
- Share responsibilities within groups so they are not carrying the burden alone
- Celebrate small wins to counter the sense that nothing is enough
It is crucial not to suggest that individual lifestyle changes alone will “solve” the crisis. Young people need realism about the limits of personal action, alongside encouragement to engage with collective and political solutions if they wish to.
5. Know when to seek professional help
Sometimes eco-anxiety merges with, triggers or worsens mental health problems that require professional care. Consider seeking support from a qualified therapist, counsellor or child and adolescent mental health service if a young person:
- Shows persistent low mood for most of the day, most days
- Withdraws from friends, school or activities they used to enjoy
- Has ongoing problems with sleep, appetite or concentration
- Talks about feeling hopeless, worthless or that life is not worth living
- Expresses suicidal thoughts or self-harm behaviours
Many caregivers now search online for the best therapy for depression near me. When eco-anxiety is part of the picture, it can be helpful to look for clinicians who are open to discussing climate concerns and who recognise the difference between realistic worry and pathological fear.
If a young person is already taking medication for depression or anxiety, invite them to talk about any depression medication side effects they are experiencing, such as sleep disturbance, changes in appetite or emotional blunting. Side effects can become another source of worry if not openly acknowledged. Adjusting dose, timing or treatment type is sometimes possible and should always be discussed with a prescriber.
How to Help Someone With Depression Linked to Climate Fears
When depression and eco-anxiety coexist, support needs to cover both the internal emotional world and the external reality of the climate crisis. Helpful steps include:
Take their fears seriously
Avoid minimising comments such as “it will all work out” or “technology will fix it.” Instead, you can say:
- “You are right that climate change is serious. I can see why you feel this way.”
- “Let us work on ways to look after your mental health while we deal with what is happening.”
Strengthen everyday protective habits
Basic health routines support the brain under stress, whether the trigger is climate worry, exams or family conflict. Encourage:
- Regular sleep and wake times
- Nourishing, predictable meals
- Daily movement such as walking, cycling, sports or dancing
- Time offline, particularly in the evening
These are similar to many natural remedies for depression that boost mood and reduce anxiety by supporting the body’s stress response systems.
Build supportive relationships and climate-literate spaces
Depression thrives in isolation. Seek out or help create spaces where young people can:
- Talk about climate feelings without ridicule
- Meet others who share their concerns and values
- Access adults who are informed, calm and willing to act
Schools, youth groups and clinics can all become more climate-literate by offering age-appropriate education, peer support groups and opportunities for civic engagement.
When Professional Care Is Needed
If a young person’s mood, energy or functioning is significantly impaired, or if there are any signs of self-harm or suicidal thinking, urgent professional help is essential. Treatment options can include:
- Talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy or interpersonal therapy, which help young people manage unhelpful thoughts, build coping skills and strengthen relationships.
- Family-based interventions that improve communication and alignment on climate issues at home.
- Medication for depression or anxiety when recommended by a clinician, with careful monitoring of benefits and side effects.
Therapists do not need to be climate experts to help. What matters is a willingness to acknowledge eco-anxiety as a valid concern, integrate it into assessment and treatment, and work collaboratively on realistic, values-based action.
Looking Ahead: Supporting the Next Generation
The evidence so far shows that eco-anxiety among children and young people is not a rare or fringe experience. It is a predictable response to living through accelerating climate change in a world that has been slow to act.
For health professionals, educators and caregivers, this means:
- Recognising eco-anxiety early, especially when assessing the signs and symptoms of depression
- Creating spaces where young people can talk about climate fears safely
- Encouraging coping strategies that combine self-care, connection with nature and constructive action
- Advocating for policies that protect both planetary and mental health, so young people see that adults are responding
Eco-anxiety will not disappear while the climate crisis continues, but it can be held, understood and channelled. By taking young people’s concerns seriously and offering informed, compassionate support, we can reduce the risk that climate distress turns into long-term depression and instead help it become a driver for meaningful, sustainable change.