Why Eco-Anxiety Matters

Eco-anxiety, a term representing the mental distress caused by deteriorating environmental conditions, is increasingly recognised as a significant emotional response to climate change. While the understanding of eco-anxiety and its broader impacts is evolving, its growing prevalence suggests substantial future implications for individual well-being, family life, community dynamics, and economic stability across all industries.

The year 2011 was pivotal in raising global awareness of the connection between climate change and natural disasters, leading to the formalisation of eco-anxiety as a concept. The unprecedented scale and cost of disasters that year spurred policymakers to take climate-related risks seriously, marking the beginning of eco-anxiety’s integration into climate adaptation and resilience strategies.

Unlike traditional individual therapy or isolated coping mechanisms, our workshops focus on creating a supportive, collaborative environment where participants can share experiences, learn from each other, and gain expert knowledge. This group-based dynamic helps individuals realise they are not alone in facing climate anxiety, and that together, they can develop actionable solutions that are more effective and empowering than working in isolation.

What is Eco-Anxiety?

Eco-anxiety refers to the emotional distress linked to climate change, manifesting as worry, grief, or even anger. These “climate emotions” are part of a broader field of study in environmental psychology, exploring how ecological crises affect our mental health.

The term gained traction during a period of record-breaking extreme weather events, when the devastating effects of climate change became undeniable. Today, eco-anxiety is recognised as a significant mental health issue, with far-reaching social and psychological impacts.

While it’s not the most severe mental health effect of climate change—conditions like PTSD and depression are also on the rise—eco-anxiety disrupts our sense of control and ability to cope with ongoing and future environmental challenges.

Our workshops explore this complex issue, offering tools to understand and manage climate-related stress while fostering resilience and actionable hope in the face of uncertainty.

Why Does It Matter Now?

Addressing eco-anxiety is urgent because it’s closely tied to both individual and community resilience. Resilience—our ability to cope with disruptions—relies heavily on strong social networks and support. Research shows that communities with rich social capital are better equipped to handle crises, including the rising eco-anxiety fuelled by constant exposure to environmental disasters.

Unlike acute events, eco-anxiety builds gradually from the relentless stream of climate-related news and images. This cumulative stress diminishes people’s sense of control, leading to delayed life decisions, disengagement from community life, and even apathy toward social and political issues.

Our program focuses on early intervention and education, helping people understand eco-anxiety and build resilience. By equipping individuals and communities with tools to manage this growing concern, we aim to foster proactive, long-term mental health and well-being. Ignoring eco-anxiety risks amplifying psychological and social challenges. Acting now helps prevent a larger crisis in the future.

The Interconnectedness of Self-Efficacy, Resilience, and Social Capital

Self-efficacy, psychological resilience, community resilience, and social capital form a dynamic system where individual beliefs drive broader societal outcomes:

• Self-Efficacy and Psychological Resilience: Belief in personal control boosts resilience, promoting positive coping, reducing stress, and encouraging perseverance.
• Self-Efficacy and Community Resilience: It empowers individuals to act collectively, mobilise resources, and innovate, strengthening communities.
• Self-Efficacy and Social Capital: It enhances trust, fosters active participation, and supports collective problem-solving, increasing civic engagement.

Self-efficacy is crucial not just for personal resilience but also for building stronger, more connected communities. This interconnectedness underscores its importance in addressing eco-anxiety by fostering both individual and collective well-being.

Why Self-Efficacy Matters in Eco-Anxiety Resilience Workshops

Self-efficacy, rooted in former Standford University Professor Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory, is the belief in one’s ability to manage situations and challenges. It plays a vital role in resilience and empowerment across various domains like education, health, and work. Building self-efficacy is key to psychological resilience because it:

• Encourages persistence and problem-solving in the face of adversity
• Reduces stress and promotes proactive coping strategies
• Drives goal setting and achievement

People with strong self-efficacy see challenges as opportunities rather than threats, fostering resilience. This is why our workshops are informed by and guided towards enhancing self-efficacy: it equips individuals to manage eco-anxiety and empowers them to face climate challenges with confidence and action.

Addressing eco-anxiety proactively through early intervention and education is crucial for enhancing individual and community resilience, helping to manage the psychological and social challenges of climate change and preventing a larger crisis in the future.

Designed for organisations at the forefront of climate action, this program equips teams with the knowledge, tools, and collaborative strategies to effectively manage and mitigate eco-anxiety, fostering resilience and sustainable solutions in the face of growing environmental challenges.