Concern about the climate is linked to symptoms of depression and anxiety, but these symptoms decrease when people act to benefit the climate, especially when accompanied by experiences of empowerment and hope.
That's according to a study carried out at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and published in the latest issue of the US-based Journal of Environmental Psychology.
It’s based on a dissertation by Veera Nieminen, a doctoral researcher in environmental, climate and ecopsychology.
Nieminen's study found that climate concern is associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms in people of all ages in Finland, the university said in a press release.
"Previous research has found that the effects of climate change on mental health may be more severe in societally vulnerable groups, such as young people, marginalised minorities and people with limited resources," Nieminen told Yle News on Friday.
She is the lead author of the article, entitled Climate worry and mental health: the role of pro-environmental behavior and efficacy-based hope as coping strategies, co-authored by six other researchers.
The research indicates that people who are worried about the climate have fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety if they carry out pro-environmental behaviours such as climate-related volunteer work, avoidance of flying, following a plant-based diet, environmental activism or participation in policy formulation, for example – especially when coupled with hope that society will be able to mitigate climate change.
"We suggest that high levels of engagement in climate action may alleviate mental health symptoms, if the actions that individuals take support a sense of agency and help foster constructive hope when addressing climate change," says Nieminen. "In other words, supporting individuals' agency in the climate crisis may help alleviate related mental health symptoms. Action is associated with fewer symptoms when it is combined with hope."
However, she emphasises that responsibility should not be shifted from society and companies to individuals.
"It's essential that society as a whole commits to effective climate action. This supports not only efforts to mitigate climate change and safeguard planetary well-being, but also individuals' mental health. Societal structures and reforms must be designed in a way that creates a solid foundation for meaningful action at the individual level," she argues.
In addition, "we need clear information about what kind of climate action is truly effective and how different people can participate in the change," Nieminen says.
"The climate crisis is also a mental health crisis"
"The climate crisis is also a mental health crisis. As climate change progresses, we need a greater understanding of its impacts on mental health, and of ways to support mental health amid the climate crisis," she told Yle.
"In Finland, the direct impacts of climate change, such as environmental disasters, are likely to be less severe. However, it can affect our mental health indirectly. As we witness the progress of the climate crisis, we may, naturally, experience strong emotions such as grief, anxiety and anger."
Her study was based on adults from Finland's 10 largest cities, which have a higher level of education and higher proportion of female residents than the adult population of the country as a whole.
