Transforming Climate Anxiety Into Creative Action
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re honored to share a powerful Q&A with Olivia Vesovich, a youth plaintiff in the historic youth-led climate lawsuit, Held v. Montana and a Gen Z advisor with the Climate Mental Health Network. Olivia courageously testified in court about the emotional toll of the climate crisis—sharing not only the devastating impacts on her health and mental health, but also how art, advocacy, and community have become vital tools in her healing. In this piece, she reflects on what it meant to speak truth to power, how creative expression helps her navigate climate anxiety, and why tending to our emotional well-being is essential to building a just, livable future. Olivia’s story is a testament to the strength it takes to feel deeply and the hope that grows when we face the climate crisis together.
Navigating Climate Anxiety: A Guide for Youth During Mental Health awareness Month
In recent years, the term “climate anxiety” has gained attention, particularly among young people who are deeply concerned about the future of our planet. Although any type of anxiety is unique to the person, Climate anxiety generally refers to fear, stress, and overwhelming worry about the environmental crisis and its impact on our world. This impact is spread across cultures, the globe, all regions and all people. With rising temperatures, natural disasters, and biodiversity loss, it’s understandable that many young people feel a growing sense of despair. So, how can we navigate these real, intense emotions while still maintaining hope and motivation?
Climate Crisis and Institutional Betrayal Inextricably Linked to Rising Mental Health Issues Among Children
Elizabeth Pinsky is the Associate Director at the Massachusetts General Center for Environment and Health and a child and adolescent psychiatrist and pediatrician. She also serves as a pro bono expert in Genesis v. EPA. The excerpt below is from her declaration filed on August 12, 2024, in support of the youth plaintiffs.