Young people are increasingly impacted by climate distress, but with mental health systems currently unprepared to respond, a new review from Orygen has explored how existing therapeutic approaches can be applied, adapted or reconsidered to meet rising demand.
The new paper, published in The Lancet Planetary Health was a global collaboration drawing on diverse cultural perspectives and backgrounds, with more than half the authors identifying as migrants, and a number from low-and middle-income countries. Collectively, authors brought lived experience from across Asia, South Asia, South Africa, the UK and Australia to the review.
Lead author and Research Fellow at Orygen, Dr Hasini Gunasiri, said that climate distress was now common among young people, and could include persistent worry about the future, fears about displacement or frustration at lack of action from those in power.
“This worry is wearing down young people’s mental health – even if they’re not directly impacted by things like climate disasters – and it's leading to poorer wellbeing,” Dr Gunasiri said.
“Mental health systems have been slow to adapt to climate distress, and access to support is often limited due to cost and stigma, meaning many young people don’t seek the care they need.
“We also know that many young people feel their concerns are minimised or dismissed, so it’s important we build the capacity of the health system to understand that climate distress is a valid and rational response, not something that should be dismissed as ‘catastrophising’.
Co-author from the University of Oxford, Dr Emma Lawrance, said most young Australians were now living with a growing number of climate-related hazards like extreme heat, floods, fires and storms.
“The psychological toll compounds with the ongoing grief and fear of knowing what's coming,” Dr Lawrance said.
“Young people are telling us that climate change and inadequate action are eroding their sense of safety and stealing the futures they'd imagined for themselves.
“They are also telling us what they need: spaces and tools to process these experiences – in schools, communities, and mental health services - alongside real opportunities to take and see meaningful action that prevents these harms and creates mental health-promoting environments.
“Meanwhile, policymakers, educators, parents and clinicians are coming to researchers with an urgent question: they want to act - to protect and promote young people's mental health in a changing climate – but they don't yet know what is appropriate or what works.”
The paper explored a range of therapeutic approaches commonly used in youth mental health care, including cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, mindfulness, nature-based approaches, empowerment and activism engagement, and pharmacological treatments.
The authors highlighted the strengths and limitations of each therapy and how they can be used to develop coping skills, and support young people to sit with difficult emotions and build a sense of agency.
“We urgently need to tackle the mental health impacts of climate change – and adapting existing therapeutic strategies shows real promise in supporting young people to strengthen their skills and resilience to navigate these issues,” Dr Gunasiri said.
“However, these approaches remain largely untested in controlled climate-specific trials – reflecting under-investment and politicisation in this area – and this needs to change so we can develop the best possible care for young people.”
Dr Bronwyn Gresham, clinical psychologist and CEO with Psychology for a Safe Climate, said climate‑aware practice gave clinicians a way to respond that is both honest and hopeful.
“We can validate the depth of young people’s concern, offer practical tools to navigate overwhelming feelings, and help them build communities and actions that sustain them over the long haul,” Dr Gresham said.
“This is not a niche add‑on to therapy anymore; it’s part of doing good youth mental health care in a rapidly changing world."