Eco-anxiety and Hope

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 th...

There are a lot of different emotions and feelings in relation to ecological issues. It would be highly important that people could recognize their emotions and encounter them constructively. It can be very helpful and relieving if there are opportunities to discuss these emotions in groups. The following set of questions are meant to help facilitators to lead group discussions about some of the important ecological emotions / feelings / moods. These questions have been formulated by interdisciplinary environmental researcher Panu Pihkala, Ph.D., who has used them in sessions related to eco-anxiety and ecological emotions in Finland. (Version 10.11.2020) Anxiety - What does anxiety feel like? What are the physical sensations? - Topic: Different forms of anxiety. What kind of major variations of anxiety are there? (feeling of uncertainty and/or tension; anxiety states; existential anxiety; practical or adaptive anxiety etc.) - How is anxiety different than fear? - What kind of variou...

This activity helps people to share their emotions and thoughts about the ecological crisis. If wanted, you can focus explicitly on climate change. Length : minimum 60 minutes, preferably 90-105 minutes. It is important to move towards empowerment near the end, and to provide enough time for this. Number of people who can attend : preferably around 20. For experienced facilitators, it is possible to include a quite large number of people. Requirements for the facilitator : Please do not lead this activity if you have not done inner work about ecological emotions yourself. You also should have at least basic experience of facilitating group work. If you are not very experienced, it is wise to guide this with a colleague. However, you do not need to be a professional therapist to facilitate this activity. Further ideas and tips More information and tips about facilitating this kind of work can be found at: - Carbon Conversations Facilitator’s Guide, Rosemary Rand...

10 recommendations for people with eco-anxiety Don’t feel weak or unsuccessful if you experience eco-anxiety. It’s understandable to be embarrassed by difficult emotions, because our society is afraid of these feelings. However, difficult emotions are actually a sign of health and strength rather than weakness. Being concerned about the scope of global problems means that you’ve made a healthy analysis of the situation.   Appreciate and respect your eco-anxiety.   Successfully retaining your sensitivity to the world’s pain is something to be proud of. It means that you can also experience more joy, because you haven’t become numb. However, do remember to respect that anxiety by keeping it at a suitable distance. Allow yourself to experience the sea of emotions, but don’t become completely submersed. You’re not alone. Don't remain alone. It's comforting to know that a lot of people experience eco-anxiety. So far, we just haven’t found each other because it’s bee...