Let's Talk About It: Mental Health & Climate Change

• This short video acknowledges the gravity of climate anxiety and why it is so important to talk about it.
• Students will learn why climate anxiety is so prevalent and some strategies for how to cope with it.

Positives

• This video uses simple, yet engaging, graphics depicting the important content represented.
• This resource validates feelings that students might be experiencing such as anxiety, loneliness, fear, and isolation.

Additional Prerequisites

• Prepare ahead of time for ways to support students' big emotions and your own as you dive into a difficult topic.
• Since this is a short video, think about your bigger goal for how to incorporate this video into a climate change lesson.

Differentiation

• This video would be an excellent supplement to another lesson about difficult topics related to climate change, including tipping points, mass extinction, or racial inequities.
• Consider allowing students to view this video independently and then write reflection papers or participate in small group discussions.
• Use this other video to help students process their feelings and to brainstorm solutions as they learn about five ways to cope with climate anxiety.
• Consider giving students the time to write down one goal for how to cope with climate anxiety, either using the social media recommendations from the video, creating a climate action goal, or even creating a nature journal.
• Other resources that might pair well with this video include this TED Talk about the emotions that power climate action, this longer podcast which provides a deeper dive into climate change and mental health, or this digital poster with quick tips for eco-anxiety.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.