Teen climate anxiety is complicated. Teens are, of course, dealing with all the changes we associate with becoming an adolescent. But they’re also met with an overwhelming amount of news headlines, potential disinformation, and conversations with people with differing opinions about climate change.
As teens, it can feel difficult to know how to deal with the fear, anxiety, and helplessness that can come from awareness of climate change. Coping with climate change stress can be difficult, and it’s understandable to wonder how teens can manage climate change worries.
Plus, as parents, you might have many questions about how to support adolescents concerned about climate. How honest should I be about the current data? What are ways teens can take action without stress? How can I tell the difference between “normal” stress and when professional support is needed?
There is no handbook for dealing with difficult conversations with teens, but active listening and support can mean the world as they navigate a chaotic world. In this blog, we’ll be discussing the association between mental health and climate change, how climate anxiety is affecting school and social life, and ways of helping teens with eco-anxiety.
Mission Prep Healthcare specializes in mental health treatment for teens aged 12-17, offering residential and outpatient programs for anxiety, depression, trauma, and mood disorders. Our therapies include CBT, DBT, EMDR, and TMS, tailored to each adolescent’s needs.
With a structured, supportive environment, we integrate academic support and family involvement to promote lasting recovery. Our goal is to help teens build resilience and regain confidence in their future.
Mental Health and Climate Change in Teens
Teens face many sources of stress, and a main concern of many parents is the mental health of their teens. It can be difficult to determine how to support teens as they navigate a constantly changing world, as their bodies are also changing. But teen climate anxiety adds another layer to this stress. To address this, it can help to understand the relationship between mental health and climate change.
During the teen years, abstract and critical thinking skills begin to develop, helping us understand larger global problems and making adolescents more prone to climate anxiety.1 Adolescents are simultaneously developing their sense of self, including their beliefs and values, while also finding it more difficult than adults to cope with negative emotions.2
Youth mental health climate concerns can lead to anxiety, depression, and other psychological effects.3 Further, anxiety can interfere with focus and academic stamina for students, highlighting how climate anxiety affects school and social life.
In the context of climate change, it can often feel like there aren’t any actionable steps that can be taken, leading to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. This can make it hard to create ways teens can take action without stress.
The first step in supporting adolescents concerned about climate is recognizing when this is an issue, which we’ll discuss next.
Signs of Eco-Anxiety in Adolescents
When supporting adolescents concerned about climate, knowing the symptoms of climate anxiety in teens can help catch it early.
One of the first signs of anxiety often involves disturbances to sleep. The impact of climate change worries on sleep and mood can cause issues like irritability, fatigue, changes in sleep patterns, such as insomnia or oversleeping.
Additionally, rumination about climate concerns, changes in eating patterns, and signs of social withdrawal may also indicate that something deeper is happening below the surface. Teens may also demonstrate excessive guilt about the environment or show preoccupation with climate-related news or conversations.
Fortunately, there is a large focus on eco-anxiety in public health research because of how widespread the issue has become. This means that our understanding of how climate change is impacting mental health will only evolve in the years to come. As a result, so too will our awareness of how to manage it.
It can feel overwhelming as a parent to address large-scale concerns with your child. But it is helpful for teens to know they have a safe space to be open, ask questions, and express their feelings. The next section explores some strategies for coping with eco-anxiety as adolescents and ways for parents to support adolescents concerned about climate.
Mental Health Tips for Climate-Conscious Teens
Teen climate anxiety can show up in varying ways, sometimes requiring both parents and teens to try a variety of strategies to find one that works best for their needs. Oftentimes, when anxiety is interfering with daily life, this may indicate a need for professional support. However, the following tips may be useful for helping teens with eco-anxiety.
Acknowledge That We Can’t Solve the Problem By Ourselves
It can be easy to get caught up in trying to fix the problem, but people often find themselves feeling helpless instead.
Instead of being problem-focused, finding a meaning-focused way to engage in the fight against climate change has been found to increase optimism and well-being.3 This means seeking ways of living by your values in your everyday life. While reducing your carbon footprint and cutting food waste are great starts, connecting with nature, focusing on new movements such as renewable energy, and adopting more sustainable ways of living may take less of a toll on your mental health.
Additionally, you could find local community-based climate groups that can support your anxiety in actionable ways. These groups often advocate for council-specific climate action plans, such as planting green spaces, which could help you both ground yourself and relieve feelings of helplessness.
Realize That Self-Care Isn’t Selfish
Often, eco-anxiety in adolescents can lead to a lack of self-care. While they may be being altruistic and kind, teens passionate about the environment can neglect their basic needs and not see how climate anxiety affects school and social life.
Aim to take time each day to practice mindfulness, get outside and be active, engage in a creative endeavor, or practice whatever self-care act fills your cup.2,3,6 Remember that you can’t help others without taking care of yourself. It might also help to put your self-care goals on your checklist to make sure you prioritize taking care of yourself.
Be Perfectly Imperfect
There is a lot of pressure on young people to take big actions, such as going zero-waste, saying “no” to fast fashion, or becoming vegan. But for many, such large steps aren’t achievable or sustainable.
While it can feel overwhelming to try to do the right thing, remember that small actions can still make a big difference. Simple changes like planting native species, walking or biking when you can, or being intentional about where you spend your money can effect change.5 Every week, you could implement a small goal by asking yourself, What’s one small change I can enact to make a difference?
Know When Professional Support Is Needed
While self-care and community-based support for adolescent climate worry are essential, it is important to recognize when professional help is needed. Often, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness come up when discussing climate-related worries, and psychological inflexibility and environmental stress can feel impossible to resolve.
If a teen begins to show signs of anxiety or depression that don’t get better with support and self-care, it is important to seek help before they reach a point of crisis. You don’t need to be at breaking point to seek the care you deserve.
Helping Teens Through Climate Change Worries at Mission Prep
While teens often feel like they have to deal with teen climate anxiety issues alone, a sense of community can give them a sense of hope. At Mission Prep Healthcare, we value the partnership between teens, clinicians, and their families to help promote health and well-being.
Our programs include therapeutic modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and many more to develop coping skills, build relationships, and help teens meet their goals. Our programs are also personalized, meaning they’re designed to target each teen’s unique background and concerns.
If your teen is impacted by climate change worry, we’re here for you. Contact us today to find out what services would be most beneficial to you.
References
- Hickman, C., Marks, E., Pihkala, P., Clayton, S., Lewandowski, R. E., Mayall, E. E., Wray, B., Mellor, C., & van Susteren, L. (2021). Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: A global survey. The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(12), 863–873. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00278-3
- Ojala, M. (2012). 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. (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
- Lopes, M. C. (2025). Climate change and its impact on children and adolescents sleep. Jornal de Pediatria, 101, S40–S47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2024.10.009
- United Nations. (n.d.). Actions for a Healthy Planet. https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions
- De Nys, L., Anderson, K., Ofosu, E. F., Ryde, G. C., Connelly, J., & Whittaker, A. C. (2022). The effects of physical activity on cortisol and sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 143, 105843. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35777076/
