‘In order to mitigate climate change , we need people who are capable of taking action and who have resilient minds. That is why we must support people in recognising and coping with not only the physical but mental effects of climate change,’ says Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency. ‘With the completion of our current research project, we have succeeded in collecting data in an area which has thus far been underrepresented, but which is becoming increasingly important in Germany.’
In Germany, many people feel psychologically burdened by climate change and its consequences. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive and reliable data — specifically on possible risk groups, the extent of psychological burdens and the exact strategies that can boost mental health. The research project, commissioned by the German Environment Agency, is titled ‘The Mental Impacts of Climate Change and Willingness to Adapt’ and offers early insights into these questions.
As part of the three-year project, experts in psychology and psychotherapy were interviewed, and a representative online survey was conducted among 1,300 adults aged 18 and over. One result: 53 percent of respondents stated that they feel strongly or very strongly mentally burdened by climate change.
In principle, there is a variety of ways to build mental resilience and manage the climate change’s negative emotional impact. This could involve being mindful of your own feelings or engaging in meaningful, respectful dialogue with others. However, the research project demonstrates that it is sometimes most effective to actively engage in consistent climate action , preferably together with others. This not only shows that one can make a difference through one’s own actions but also helps to limit the cause of the psychological burden: climate change itself.
The results from this work, particularly those aimed at strengthening individual mental resilience, have been compiled in the guide ‘Ratgeber für mentale Gesundheit im Klimawandel’ (Guide for Mental Health in the Context of Climate Change). This guide is aimed at both those affected and interested readers. In addition to general information on the topic, the guide offers practical ways to cope with the psychological stress caused by climate change in a healthy and constructive way.
Although the guide specifically addresses psychological stress caused by climate change, many of the given strategies can also be applied to other stressful or challenging situations.
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