Climate anxiety in young people: a call to action
Open accessAbstract
Climate change poses a major threat to human health. Emerging studies are elucidating the physical health effects of climate change, such as increased rates of heat-related illnesses and infectious diseases and exacerbation of cardiopulmonary conditions;1 however, research is scarce on the psychological effects,2 particularly in young people (defined by WHO as individuals aged 10–24 years) and youth (15–24 years) who might be disproportionately affected. The climate crisis could precipitate new psychological conditions and worsen existing mental illnesses among young people experiencing climate anxiety, yet pervasive data gaps preclude our ability to act.
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Substantial levels of climate-related distress are reported globally, with children and young people particularly vulnerable.
“Substantial levels of climate-related distress are reported globally, 15 with children and young people particularly vulnerable. 16”
From Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey (2021) · cites this paper as [16]
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- Authors
- Wu, J., Snell, G., & Samji, H.
- Affiliations
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Simon Fraser University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Samji, Hasina
- Venue
- The Lancet Planetary Health
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-10
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- e435-e436
- ISSN
- 2542-5196 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3083802731
- Cited by
- 272
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 54 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 24
- FWCI
- 46.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- The Lancet Planetary Health (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Climate Change Communication and Perception
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Climate Change and Health Impacts
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Keywords
- climate anxiety, youth, youth mental health, climate change and mental health, mental illness, call to action
- MeSH terms
- Natural Disasters, Adolescent, Anxiety, Child, Climate, Humans, Mental Health, Stress, Psychological, Young Adult, Climate Change
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