New articles about eco-anxiety: The Finnish national project

A national project 2020-2022

With the lead of Mental Health Finland (Mieli ry), three NGOs applied and received funding from the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health for a multiyear national project about eco-anxiety. This is a highly exciting project and one in which I have been much involved in, both in the preparation of the application and now as an advisor. The year 2020 was a tough one to start such a project, with COVID-19 pandemic reigning, but in winter 2021 the project has really kicked off.

The two other organizations behind the project are Nyyti ry, an old NGO focusing on mental well-being among students, and the brand new Tunne ry, which was founded to develop resources for encountering eco-anxiety and other ecological emotions. The national project published its website in winter 2020, offering information both for the general public and for various professionals. The project organizes peer groups, educates professionals, and raises awareness among the social and health sectors.

The Finnish name of the project, “Ympäristöahdistuksen mieli”, is difficult to translate. The Finnish word “mieli” refers both to mind and to meaning. The name thus reflects the importance of finding meaning in the midst of the ecological crisis.

It is significant that such a project was funded: in my experience, it requires several years of consciousness-raising in the general public and advocacy among funding institutions. Worldwide, there’s still a lack of funding for projects related to eco-anxiety, and hopefully the Finnish one could serve as an inspiration. It required determination and commitment especially from Mental Health Finland.

Campaign 2021 and The Shouting Man 

In March 2021, the project launched a public campaign, right after many mental health organizations in Finland joined the global movement of declaring a climate emergency. The campaign gained media attention and especially The Shouting Man was featured also in the most popular Finnish evening television news: see Britt Wray’s coverage of this for information and the links.

Articles can be easily translated

There are many interesting articles on the website, and they can be easily translated with GoogleTranslate. If you use the Chrome browser, you can just right-click (with PC computers) on the screen and choose to translate the text. Many of these texts have been written by myself, and I have now published English translations of them in Academia.edu and ResearchGate: you’ll find the links below.

 

Articles for health professionals and scholars

 

For health professionals

My own text which briefly explains eco-anxiety for health professionals and offers tips for recognizing various forms of it. Includes questions for self-reflection for health professionals about their attitudes towards eco-anxiety and about their own ecological emotions.

Link to the translated version in Academia.edu: https://www.academia.edu/46963277/Eco_anxiety_and_Health_Professionals

 

A doctor’s view of eco-anxiety

In this text, medical doctor Hanna Rintala tells both of her own experiences of eco-anxiety as a health professional and discusses challenges related to the phenomena.

Link to the text on the project website: https://www.ymparistoahdistus.fi/artikkelit/ymparistoahdistus-ja-tunteet-terveydenhuollossa/

 

Intensity scale of eco-anxiety

Here I build on therapist and eco-anxiety researcher Caroline Hickman’s proposal for a non-clinical "scale" of eco-anxiety. I want to emphasize that both Hickman and I strongly argue that eco-anxiety is fundamentally not an anxiety disorder or other mental health issue, but instead a natural reaction to the troubled state of the planet. However, discussion about various intensities of eco-anxiety may help people to make more sense of the various forms of this phenomenon.

In the text, I mention some additions and changes that I have made into Hickman’s pioneering scheme. I have integrated a bit more ecopsychology and I have made a differentiation between strong and very strong forms of eco-anxiety. in the text, I also briefly discuss skills related to adaptive coping with eco-anxiety.

Link to the text on the project website: https://www.ymparistoahdistus.fi/artikkelit/ymparistoahdistuksen-voimakkuusasteikko/

 

Eco-anxiety and reproduction issues in couples therapy

An experienced couples counsellor Heli Vaaranen discusses the dynamics of eco-anxiety and eco-reproduction concerns in her article. There is not yet much literature on this subject, which makes Vaaranen’s contribution even more valuable.

Link to the text on the project website: https://www.ymparistoahdistus.fi/artikkelit/ymparistoahdistus-pariterapeutin-vastaanotolla/

 

Articles about children, youth, and education

There are several short articles about these important subjects.

 

A Teacher’s View of Eco-anxiety and emotions

Educator and scholar Anna Lehtonen insightfully discusses the challenges that she has faced as an elementary school teacher when dealing with eco-anxiety. Warmly recommended to teachers and educators, but also to all people interested about children and eco-anxiety.

Link to the text on the project website: https://www.ymparistoahdistus.fi/artikkelit/tunteet-ja-ilmastokasvatus-koulussa-opettajan-pohdintaa/

For a more theoretical approach, see also the academic article (2021) written jointly by Anna and me: “Encounters with climate change and its psychosocial aspects through performance making among young people”

 

Eco-anxiety among children and adolescents in light of recent research

My short review article of the current state of research. I checked the translation and an English version is available here: https://www.academia.edu/46970327/Eco_anxiety_among_children_and_adolescents_in_light_of_recent_research

 

Educators and coping

A short text of mine where I mention some tips for coping and self-care.

Link to the text on the project website: https://www.ymparistoahdistus.fi/artikkelit/kasvatus-ja-ymparistotunteet/

 

Overview articles about eco-anxiety, ecological grief, and “hope”

 

During the past year, I’ve made several overview articles for the website.

 

Introduction to eco-anxiety research

Link to the text on the project website: https://www.ymparistoahdistus.fi/blogi/johdanto/

 

Important studies and books related to eco-anxiety (August 2020)

Shortlists.

A selection of research articles: https://www.ymparistoahdistus.fi/artikkelit/akateemista-tutkimusta-ymparistoahdistuksesta/

Books: https://www.ymparistoahdistus.fi/artikkelit/kaytannon-kirjoja-ymparistoahdistuksesta/

 

Recent research on climate change and mental health (Feb 2021)

Link to the text on the project website: https://www.ymparistoahdistus.fi/artikkelit/tuoretta-tutkimustietoa-ilmastokriisin-mielenterveysvaikutuksista/

For wider reviews of literature, please see Andrew Bryant's fabulous Climate and Mind website

 

Introduction to ecological grief

Link to the text on the project website: https://www.ymparistoahdistus.fi/artikkelit/ymparistosuru/

 

“Hope” and Eco-anxiety

A bit longer article, where the various nuances of “hope” are explored. Includes brief reflections of how hope is conceptualized in recent books about eco-anxiety (Anouchka Grose, Sarah Jacquette Ray, Jack Adam Weber).

Link to the text on the project website: https://www.ymparistoahdistus.fi/artikkelit/toivo/

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