Do these climate anxiety and youth mental health programs actually work? GGN-Z is conducting its own evaluation, while Iglas believes more research and intervention are needed in this area. “Where is the research on these programs? Everyone is talking about emotions, but how do we know which approaches are effective?” she asks. “We’re trying to build the evidence.” She and her colleagues are studying whether participants experience improved well-being and develop stronger skills for managing difficult emotions.
Force of Nature is also working to measure the impact of its programs. The organization has joined Youth Mental Wellbeing, a collaborative project involving 25 organizations. Over five years, researchers will examine how these groups support young people. “The goal of this project is to shine a spotlight on what works and demonstrate proven ways to work with young people and support them on their mental health journey,” Hooper says.
Scientific research into climate anxiety interventions is still in its early stages. However, if these programs are intended to support children and young people, it is essential to identify which methods are effective. Strong evidence can help organizations focus their time and resources on approaches that improve mental well-being rather than those that leave young people feeling the same—or worse.
Dealing with the situation
Most existing research on climate anxiety programs highlights how new this field remains. In a 2021 scoping review, Dr. Yatjens and her co-authors examined environmental anxiety programs for people of all ages to understand the scope of the available research. They identified 34 programs, but only two had conducted a formal evaluation. “We need to know what works, for whom, when and where,” Yachens says. She encourages program developers to “value what you’ve created” by assessing its effectiveness.
A second scoping review, published in 2024 and led by Siqi Xue at the University of Toronto, also found significant research gaps. The researchers included the Good Grief Network in their analysis and noted that, although GGN reported that 90% of participants felt more empowered and less lonely, it had not published the data or methodology supporting those claims.
Despite these limitations, the reviews identified promising findings. They suggest that group-based programs can provide connection and validation while helping young people channel difficult emotions in constructive ways. “When people feel truly listened to and supported, they tend to naturally want to do something,” Yachens says.
Only a small number of studies have examined climate anxiety programs for children and young people. One early evaluation of a Swedish initiative called “Climate Emotion School” offers encouraging evidence. The curriculum was informed by the research of Panu Pihkala, an interdisciplinary scholar of eco-emotions at the University of Helsinki. He developed a coping model that emphasizes expressing emotions, learning to regulate them, taking meaningful action and finding purpose. The model also encourages self-care and maintaining a healthy distance from overwhelming emotions when necessary.
“When people feel truly listened to and supported, they tend to naturally want to do something.”
Liza Jachens, Psychologist and Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nottingham
In her study, Sweden-based clinical psychologist Britta Eklev found that students who took part in the climate change program felt comforted by sharing their difficult emotions and seeing those feelings reflected in others. This type of validation is often missing from conversations between young people and adults. Adults may try to dismiss or soften children’s negative emotions instead of acknowledging them. “The recommendation instead is to validate and share,” Eklev says—and, where possible, to give young people practical ways to respond.
Source: www.technologyreview.com