A landmark, first-of-its-kind study published in September 2021 showed that the  climate crisis was dramatically altering the mental health of young people across the globe.  Nearly 60% of youth respondents said they felt ‘very worried’ or ‘extremely worried’ about climate change. Many associated negative emotions with climate change — the most commonly chosen were ‘sad’, ‘afraid’, ‘anxious’, ‘angry’ and ‘powerless’ (source). Overall, 45% of participants said their negative feelings about climate change impacted their daily lives. 

This year, 1 in 3 Americans were affected by a climate-related disaster, and there is a significant, negative impact that rapid and ongoing climate change has on America’s schools, students, and communities, where rising temperatures and humidity are associated with increases in emergency department visits for mental health concerns as well as mental health effects from wildfire smoke pollution. Children are more impacted by climate-related disasters than adults and are more likely to have continued trauma-related symptoms after a disaster, most of these damages being life-long after the initial acute trauma of a disaster is often replaced with a set of long-term psychological stressors like disruptions in routine, separation from caregivers from evacuations or displacement, and parental stress after a disaster all contribute to children’s distress. 

In 2021, The National Association of School Psychologists, representing more than 25,000 members, declared the need to increase awareness of the harmful effects of climate change on youth and advocate for climate justice. School districts need immediate resources to help children and families cope with the mental health effects of continued climate-related disasters. Studies have found that survivors of climate disasters who have found social support prove to have better mental health results following the disaster, showing the importance of these resources. 

Please sign below to support a House Resolution to Support Youth Mental Health amid the Climate Crisis. This resolution educates Congress on this issue, describes the disproportionate impact of mental health issues in BIPOC communities, and prescribes funding to support youth as they fight for their future.