Resources

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Adaptation

Practical resources

What does adaptation to climate change mean?

Understanding and promoting psychological adaptation to change

References

Bradley, G. L., & Reser, J. P. (2017). Adaptation processes in the context of climate change: A social and environmental psychology perspective. Journal of Bioeconomics, 19(1), 29–51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10818-016-9231-x

Doherty, T. J., & Clayton, S. (2011). The psychological impacts of global climate change. American Psychologist, 66(4), 265–276. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023141

Sanson, A. V., Hoorn, J. V., & Burke, S. E. L. (2019). Responding to the Impacts of the Climate Crisis on Children and Youth. Child Development Perspectives, 13(4), 201–207. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12342

Verlie, B., Clark, E., Jarrett, T., & Supriyono, E. (2021). Educators’ experiences and strategies for responding to ecological distress. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 37(2), 132–146. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2020.34

Counselling

Practical resources

Psychology for a Safe Climate's directory of Climate Aware Practitioners

References

Fritze, J. G., Blashki, G. A., Burke, S., & Wiseman, J. (2008). Hope, despair and transformation: Climate change and the promotion of mental health and well-being. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 2(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-2-13

Hayes, K., Blashki, G., Wiseman, J., Burke, S., & Reifels, L. (2018). Climate change and mental health: Risks, impacts and priority actions. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 12(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6

Creative pursuits

Practical resources

Climarte: a collaborative platform for artists to engage in climate-focussed exhibitions and events

References

Hayes, K., Blashki, G., Wiseman, J., Burke, S., & Reifels, L. (2018). Climate change and mental health: Risks, impacts and priority actions. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 12(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6

Kipp, A., Cunsolo, A., Vodden, K., King, N., Manners, S., & Harper, S. L. (2019). At-a-glance Climate change impacts on health and well-being in rural and remote regions across Canada: A synthesis of the literature. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada : Research, Policy and Practice, 39(4), 122–126.

Pihkala, P. (2018). Eco-Anxiety, Tragedy, and Hope: Psychological and Spiritual Dimensions of Climate Change. Zygon®, 53(2), 545–569. https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12407

Pihkala, P. (2020). Eco-anxiety and environmental education. Sustainability, 12(23), 10149.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310149

Sanson, A. V., Hoorn, J. V., & Burke, S. E. L. (2019). Responding to the Impacts of the Climate Crisis on Children and Youth. Child Development Perspectives, 13(4), 201–207. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12342

Education

Practical resources

6 tips for talking to kids about climate change

Parental guide to climate change: how to educate and encourage pro-environmental behaviours in kids

References

Bradley, G. L., & Reser, J. P. (2017). Adaptation processes in the context of climate change: A
social and environmental psychology perspective. Journal of Bioeconomics, 19(1),
29–51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10818-016-9231-x

Palinkas, L. A., & Wong, M. (2020). Global climate change and mental health. Current Opinion
in Psychology, 32, 12–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.06.023

Palinkas, L. A., O’Donnell, M. L., Lau, W., & Wong, M. (2020). Strategies for Delivering Mental Health Services in Response to Global Climate Change: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(22), 8562. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228562

Pihkala, P. (2020). Eco-anxiety and environmental education. Sustainability, 12(23), 10149.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310149

Stevenson, K., & Peterson, N. (2016). Motivating action through fostering climate change hope
and concern and avoiding despair among adolescents. Sustainability, 8(1), 6.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su8010006

Usher, K., Durkin, J., & Bhullar, N. (2019). Eco-anxiety: How thinking about climate change-related environmental decline is affecting our mental health. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28(6), 1233–1234. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12673

Emotions

Practical resources

How to regulate your emotions when you feel you can’t manage your environment.

How to support and validate others' emotions.

Understanding and validating young people's climate change anxiety.

References

Cunsolo, A., Harper, S. L., Minor, K., Hayes, K., Williams, K. G., & Howard, C. (2020). Ecological grief and anxiety: The start of a healthy response to climate change? The Lancet Planetary Health, 4(7), e261–e263. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30144-3

Doherty, T. J., & Clayton, S. (2011). The psychological impacts of global climate change. American Psychologist, 66(4), 265–276. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023141

Fraser, J., Pantesco, V., Plemons, K., Gupta, R., & Rank, S. J. (2013). Sustaining the Conservationist. Ecopsychology, 5(2), 70–79. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2012.0076

Pihkala, P. (2020). Eco-Anxiety and Environmental Education. Sustainability, 12(23), 10149. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310149

Pinsky, E., Guerrero, A. P. S., & Livingston, R. (2020). Our House Is on Fire: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists in the Era of the Climate Crisis. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(5), 580–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2020.01.016

Ojala, M. (2012). Regulating Worry, Promoting Hope: How Do Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Cope with Climate Change? International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 7(4), 537–561.

Verlie, B., Clark, E., Jarrett, T., & Supriyono, E. (2021). Educators’ experiences and strategies for responding to ecological distress. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 37(2), 132–146. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2020.34

Interpersonal skills

Practical resources

Parental guide to climate change: how to help kids build interpersonal skills and relationships

References

Sanson, A. V., Hoorn, J. V., & Burke, S. E. L. (2019). Responding to the Impacts of the Climate Crisis on Children and Youth. Child Development Perspectives, 13(4), 201–207. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12342

Medication

References

Wolf, J., & Salo, R. (2008). Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink: Climate change delusion. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 42(4), 350. https://doi.org/10.1080/00048670701881603

Nature

Practical resources

Parental guide to climate change: how to encourage children to care about nature

Promoting pro-environmental behaviours in children

References

Cunsolo, A., Harper, S. L., Minor, K., Hayes, K., Williams, K. G., & Howard, C. (2020). Ecological grief and anxiety: The start of a healthy response to climate change? The Lancet Planetary Health, 4(7), e261–e263. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30144-3

Fritze, J. G., Blashki, G. A., Burke, S., & Wiseman, J. (2008). Hope, despair and transformation: Climate change and the promotion of mental health and well-being. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 2(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-2-13

Harper, S. L., Edge, V. L., Ford, J., Willox, A. C., Wood, M., McEwen, S. A., IHACC Research
Team, & RICG. (2015). Climate-sensitive health priorities in Nunatsiavut, Canada. BMC
Public Health, 15(1), 605. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1874-3

Hayes, K., Blashki, G., Wiseman, J., Burke, S., & Reifels, L. (2018). Climate change and mental health: Risks, impacts and priority actions. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 12(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6

Kipp, A., Cunsolo, A., Vodden, K., King, N., Manners, S., & Harper, S. L. (2019). At-a-glance Climate change impacts on health and well-being in rural and remote regions across Canada: A synthesis of the literature. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada : Research, Policy and Practice, 39(4), 122–126.

Pihkala, P. (2020). Eco-Anxiety and Environmental Education. Sustainability, 12(23), 10149. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310149

Pinsky, E., Guerrero, A. P. S., & Livingston, R. (2020). Our House Is on Fire: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists in the Era of the Climate Crisis. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(5), 580–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2020.01.016

Non-avoidant coping

Practical resources

Understanding different coping styles

Behavioural, relational, and cognitive strategies to cope with climate change anxiety

References

Mah, A. Y. J., Chapman, D. A., Markowitz, E. M., & Lickel, B. (2020). Coping with climate change: Three insights for research, intervention, and communication to promote adaptive coping to climate change. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 75, 102282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102282

Ojala, M. (2012a). How do children cope with global climate change? Coping strategies, engagement, and well-being. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 32(3), 225–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2012.02.004

Ojala, M. (2012b). Regulating Worry, Promoting Hope: How Do Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Cope with Climate Change? International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 7(4), 537–561.

Sanson, A. V., Hoorn, J. V., & Burke, S. E. L. (2019). Responding to the Impacts of the Climate Crisis on Children and Youth. Child Development Perspectives, 13(4), 201–207. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12342

Taylor, S. (2020). Anxiety disorders, climate change, and the challenges ahead: Introduction to the special issue. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 76, 102313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102313

Usher, K., Durkin, J., & Bhullar, N. (2019). Eco-anxiety: How thinking about climate change-related environmental decline is affecting our mental health. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28(6), 1233–1234. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12673

Problem-focused action

Practical resources

The Climate Change Empowerment Handbook:  strategies to engage effectively with the challenge of climate change

Understanding factors that can promote collective action

Tips on motivating individuals and groups to adopt sustainable behaviours

References

Budziszewska, M., & Jonsson, S. E. (2021). From Climate Anxiety to Climate Action: An Existential Perspective on Climate Change Concerns Within Psychotherapy. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 002216782199324. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167821993243

Clayton, S. (2021). Climate Change and Mental Health. Current Environmental Health Reports, 8(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-020-00303-3

Doherty, T. J., & Clayton, S. (2011). The psychological impacts of global climate change. American Psychologist, 66(4), 265–276. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023141

Frydenberg, E. (2020). My journey in coping research and practice: The impetus and the relevance. The Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 37(1), 83–90. https://doi.org/10.1017/edp.2020.9

Hayes, K., Blashki, G., Wiseman, J., Burke, S., & Reifels, L. (2018). Climate change and mental health: Risks, impacts and priority actions. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 12(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6

Hickman, C. (2020). We need to (find a way to) talk about … Eco-anxiety. Journal of Social Work Practice, 34(4), 411–424. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2020.1844166

Palinkas, L. A., O’Donnell, M. L., Lau, W., & Wong, M. (2020). Strategies for Delivering Mental Health Services in Response to Global Climate Change: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(22), 8562. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228562

Parker, C. L., Wellbery, C., & Mueller, M. (2019). The changing climate: Managing health
impacts. American Family Physician, 100(10), 618–626.

Pihkala, P. (2020). Eco-Anxiety and Environmental Education. Sustainability, 12(23), 10149. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310149

Pinsky, E., Guerrero, A. P. S., & Livingston, R. (2020). Our House Is on Fire: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists in the Era of the Climate Crisis. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(5), 580–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2020.01.016

Ojala, M. (2013). Coping with Climate Change among Adolescents: Implications for Subjective Well-Being and Environmental Engagement. Sustainability, 5(5), 2191–2209. https://doi.org/10.3390/su5052191

Sanson, A. V., Hoorn, J. V., & Burke, S. E. L. (2019). Responding to the Impacts of the Climate Crisis on Children and Youth. Child Development Perspectives, 13(4), 201–207. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12342

Verlie, B., Clark, E., Jarrett, T., & Supriyono, E. (2021). Educators’ experiences and strategies for responding to ecological distress. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 37(2), 132–146. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2020.34

Psychological therapy

Practical resources

Psychology for a Safe Climate's directory of Climate Aware Practitioners

References

Cunsolo, A., Harper, S. L., Minor, K., Hayes, K., Williams, K. G., & Howard, C. (2020). Ecological grief and anxiety: The start of a healthy response to climate change? The Lancet Planetary Health, 4(7), e261–e263. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30144-3

Fritze, J. G., Blashki, G. A., Burke, S., & Wiseman, J. (2008). Hope, despair and transformation: Climate change and the promotion of mental health and well-being. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 2(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-2-13

Hayes, K., Blashki, G., Wiseman, J., Burke, S., & Reifels, L. (2018). Climate change and mental health: Risks, impacts and priority actions. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 12(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6

Jones, M. K., Wootton, B. M., Vaccaro, L. D., & Menzies, R. G. (2012). The impact of climate change on obsessive compulsive checking concerns. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 46(3), 265–270. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867411433951

Taylor, S. (2020). Anxiety disorders, climate change, and the challenges ahead: Introduction to the special issue. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 76, 102313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102313

Reassurance

Practical resources

Understanding and validating young people's climate change anxiety

How to support young people experiencing climate change anxiety

References

Pinsky, E., Guerrero, A. P. S., & Livingston, R. (2020). Our House Is on Fire: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists in the Era of the Climate Crisis. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(5), 580–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2020.01.016

Verlie, B., Clark, E., Jarrett, T., & Supriyono, E. (2021). Educators’ experiences and strategies
for responding to ecological distress. Australian Journal of Environmental Education,
37(2), 132–146. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2020.34

Religion/spirituality

Practical resources

Australian Religious Response to Climate Change: a multi-faith network committed to action on climate change

3 tips on engaging religious groups in conversation about climate change

References

Gibson, K., Haslam, N., & Kaplan, I. (2019). Distressing encounters in the context of climate change: Idioms of distress, determinants, and responses to distress in Tuvalu. Transcultural Psychiatry, 56(4), 667–696. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461519847057

Hayes, K., Blashki, G., Wiseman, J., Burke, S., & Reifels, L. (2018). Climate change and mental health: Risks, impacts and priority actions. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 12(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6

Resilience

Practical resources

Good Grief Network: A 10-step program to build resilience

Understanding climate grief to help build resilience

References

Fraser, J., Pantesco, V., Plemons, K., Gupta, R., & Rank, S. J. (2013). Sustaining the Conservationist. Ecopsychology, 5(2), 70–79. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2012.0076

Howard, M., Ahmed, S., Lachapelle, P., & Schure, M. B. (2020). Farmer and rancher perceptions
of climate change and their relationships with mental health. Journal of Rural Mental
Health, 44(2), 87–95. https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000131

Mah, A. Y. J., Chapman, D. A., Markowitz, E. M., & Lickel, B. (2020). Coping with climate change: Three insights for research, intervention, and communication to promote adaptive coping to climate change. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 75, 102282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102282

Pihkala, P. (2020). Anxiety and the ecological crisis: An analysis of eco-anxiety and climate
anxiety. Sustainability, 12(19), 7836. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12197836

Role-modelling

Practical resources

Understanding and modelling behaviours to prevent anxiety in young people

References

Ojala, M. (2012). Regulating Worry, Promoting Hope: How Do Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Cope with Climate Change? International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 7(4), 537–561.

Pihkala, P. (2020). Eco-anxiety and environmental education. Sustainability, 12(23), 10149.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310149

Pinsky, E., Guerrero, A. P. S., & Livingston, R. (2020). Our House Is on Fire: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists in the Era of the Climate Crisis. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(5), 580–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2020.01.016

Self-perception

Practical resources

The Climate Change Empowerment Handbook:  building the skills to engage effectively with the challenge of climate change

How to improve your perception of your own abilities to address climate change

References

Doherty, T. J., & Clayton, S. (2011). The psychological impacts of global climate change. American Psychologist, 66(4), 265–276. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023141

Frydenberg, E. (2020). My journey in coping research and practice: The impetus and the relevance. The Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 37(1), 83–90. https://doi.org/10.1017/edp.2020.9

Pinsky, E., Guerrero, A. P. S., & Livingston, R. (2020). Our House Is on Fire: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists in the Era of the Climate Crisis. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(5), 580–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2020.01.016

Usher, K., Durkin, J., & Bhullar, N. (2019). Eco-anxiety: How thinking about climate change-related environmental decline is affecting our mental health. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28(6), 1233–1234. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12673

Verlie, B., Clark, E., Jarrett, T., & Supriyono, E. (2021). Educators’ experiences and strategies
for responding to ecological distress. Australian Journal of Environmental Education,
37(2), 132–146. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2020.34

Social connection

Practical resources

How to effectively provide social support

Parental guide to climate change: how to help kids build interpersonal skills and relationships

References

Budziszewska, M., & Jonsson, S. E. (2021). From Climate Anxiety to Climate Action: An Existential Perspective on Climate Change Concerns Within Psychotherapy. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 002216782199324. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167821993243

Clayton, S. (2021). Climate Change and Mental Health. Current Environmental Health Reports, 8(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-020-00303-3

Cunsolo, A., Harper, S. L., Minor, K., Hayes, K., Williams, K. G., & Howard, C. (2020). Ecological grief and anxiety: The start of a healthy response to climate change? The Lancet Planetary Health, 4(7), e261–e263. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30144-3

Ferreira, R. J. (2020). Climate change, resilience, and trauma: Course of action through research,
policy, and practice. Traumatology, 26(3), 246–247. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/trm0000282

Fraser, J., Pantesco, V., Plemons, K., Gupta, R., & Rank, S. J. (2013). Sustaining the Conservationist. Ecopsychology, 5(2), 70–79. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2012.0076

Frydenberg, E. (2020). My journey in coping research and practice: The impetus and the relevance. The Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 37(1), 83–90. https://doi.org/10.1017/edp.2020.9

Gibson, K., Haslam, N., & Kaplan, I. (2019). Distressing encounters in the context of climate change: Idioms of distress, determinants, and responses to distress in Tuvalu. Transcultural Psychiatry, 56(4), 667–696. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461519847057

Kipp, A., Cunsolo, A., Vodden, K., King, N., Manners, S., & Harper, S. L. (2019). At-a-glance Climate change impacts on health and well-being in rural and remote regions across Canada: A synthesis of the literature. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada : Research, Policy and Practice, 39(4), 122–126.

Pihkala, P. (2020). Eco-anxiety and environmental education. Sustainability, 12(23), 10149.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310149

Sanson, A. V., Hoorn, J. V., & Burke, S. E. L. (2019). Responding to the Impacts of the Climate Crisis on Children and Youth. Child Development Perspectives, 13(4), 201–207. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12342

Taylor, S. (2020). Anxiety disorders, climate change, and the challenges ahead: Introduction to the special issue. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 76, 102313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102313

Verlie, B., Clark, E., Jarrett, T., & Supriyono, E. (2021). Educators’ experiences and strategies for responding to ecological distress. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 37(2), 132–146. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2020.34

Usher, K., Durkin, J., & Bhullar, N. (2019). Eco-anxiety: How thinking about climate change-related environmental decline is affecting our mental health. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28(6), 1233–1234. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12673