3 Ways to Support an Adolescent With Eco-anxiety
September 29, 2025 Mental Health
Parents
Climate change doesn’t just disrupt ecosystems, it also has a major impact on mental health, especially among young people. As an adult, your role is key: open the dialogue, listen with empathy, encourage action, and be a sincere role model. A caring and supportive presence can make all the difference in helping a teen navigate this reality.
What Is Eco-Anxiety?
Eco-anxiety is not an illness, but a natural reaction to becoming aware of environmental issues. It can show up as anxiety, distress, sadness, or a sense of helplessness in the face of climate change and its consequences.
Nearly 2 out of 3 young people report experiencing eco-anxiety, according to the Québec Survey on the Health of High School Students.
Why Are Teens Particularly Vulnerable?
Adolescence is a time of major change, and sensitivity to social issues is often heightened. Today’s young people are growing up in a world full of constant information about the climate crisis. These messages can sometimes be alarming and hard to understand without proper context.
Faced with the scale of environmental challenges and lacking the means to respond, teens may develop anxiety, often fueled by worries about their own future and the future of coming generations.
Between Worry and Hope
Eco-anxiety isn’t only about negative feelings. It can also come with hope and a strong drive to act.
The 2024 Climate Action Barometer shows that even though 67% of respondents feel powerless in the face of the climate crisis, 69% remain optimistic about possible solutions.
This emotional mix shows that eco-anxiety doesn’t always lead to paralysis, it can also become a force for action. Feeling both fear and hope at once is a normal part of this reality.
How to Support an Adolescent Facing Eco-Anxiety
Here are a few tips to support a young person who may be experiencing eco-anxiety:
1. Create a Space for Open Dialogue
- Talk openly about environmental issues.
- Explain why you make eco-friendly choices, like sorting waste or buying local, so they can better understand your values and possibly be inspired by them.
- Listen to their emotions without judgment or minimizing what they feel.
- Offer them a safe space where they can talk about their worries freely and with trust.
2. Encourage Concrete Action
- Support them in taking small, meaningful actions — like gardening together, taking part in a clothing drive, or joining an environmental activity at school. These actions help reduce the feeling of helplessness and build self-confidence.
- Also highlight positive initiatives and real progress being made to fight climate change. This helps nourish their sense of hope.
3. Be a Consistent Role Model
- You don’t have to be perfect. What matters most is that your actions match your words.
- Share your efforts, your doubts, and your small wins — even if they’re modest.
- This shows that it’s okay to take action without guilt or needing to be perfect.
When Eco-Anxiety Becomes Paralyzing
Eco-anxiety is a normal response to a rapidly changing world. It only becomes a problem when it takes over and stops a young person from functioning in daily life. With the right support, it can instead become a source of motivation and resilience. To help young people take action, visit the VolonTerre platform to explore local opportunities for environmental involvement in your region.
References (in French and English):
Institut de la statistique du Québec, Enquête québécoise sur la santé des jeunes de secondaire.
The Journal of Climate Change and Health, Climate emotions and anxiety among young people in Canada: A national survey and call to action.
Groupe de recherche sur la communication marketing climatique, Baromètre de l’action climatique 2024.
