A new study found climate change is causing anxiety for many teenagers and young adults. Often referred to as eco-anxiety, the study conducted by University of Bath found 75% of people between 16 and 25 believe the future is frightening.

“I have cared about environmentalism and the climate since I was a child, but I’ve become more acutely aware of frankly, just how screwed we are,” said 25-year-old Larissa Børglum.

The study surveyed 10,000 young people in 10 countries.


What You Need To Know

  • The study, conducted by University of Bath, found 75% of people between 16 and 25 believe the future is frightening

  • More than 50% reported feeling sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless and guilty

  • More than 45% said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning

More than 50% reported feeling sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless and guilty. More than 45% said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning.

“I felt very powerless. I felt there was nothing I could do. I was just watching things fall apart around me,” said Børglum. “I decided I have to do something about it.”

Børglum got involved with an environmental advocacy group, Extinction Rebellion. In an effort to compel government action, they participate in non-violent civil disobedience.

Børglum got arrested for her role in a recent protest. She pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and will serve eight hours of community service.

To Børglum, it’s worth it.

“When you get involved in direct action or any kind of political activism, you realize how much power you really have,” said Børglum.

Sydney Madden and Beth Ehrichs are licensed therapists who work often with teenagers and young adults. They host an advice podcast called Ask! The Podcast for teens and their parents.

“I’m hearing a lot about stress about everything, and climate change is just one more thing,” says Madden. “So every story that makes the news about this torrential rain or this flood or this hurricane or even these wildfires, I have a lot of teenagers that I talk to that are really stressed out about the stuff. They’re wondering when it’s going to show up at their doorstep.”

That anxiety often takes form physically with panic attacks, insomnia and nausea.

“It’s important to stop and ask yourself, 'How am I making a difference by destroying myself physically and emotionally with my worry?'” said Ehrichs. '“How am I changing things?”'

Madden and Ehrichs said coping with eco-anxiety is about two things — taking control and creating boundaries.

“Take action,” said Madden. “What is it that you think that you can do to make a difference, and then, when you are lying in bed and trying to go to sleep and you’re having this kind of anxious thought about how the world is going to be, you can remind yourself that you’re doing everything that you can.”

Almost half of the young people surveyed who said they talked with others about climate change felt ignored or dismissed.

Ehrichs says parents can make a huge difference for their children.

“Even if you don’t agree with what they believe in, if you don’t think climate change is real, still support your kids,” says Ehrichs.