At the transition between Earth Month and Mental Health Month, Climate Mental Health Network is this week introducing a timely new guide, All About Climate Grief: What to Know and What To Do About It by eco-emotions scholar Panu Pihkala, Ph.D. with Anya Kamenetz and Sarah Newman. The robust set of climate grief resources includes extensive infographics, an overview of models of processing difficult emotions, an activity guide and a tip sheet for parents and educators. The materials are built on growing academic research on ecological and climate grief and coping.
“Research shows that grief is a frequent and normal response to climate change. As a nonprofit creating research-informed interventions and resources for climate emotions, addressing climate grief with this comprehensive suite of materials is a natural progression and we could not have a better partner than Panu,” said Sarah Newman, Climate Mental Health Network’s Founder and Executive Director. “The first part provides an in-depth examination of what to know about climate and ecological grief. In the second part we provide a full range of resources and activities to process grief in a healthy, safe way.”
Climate Mental Health Network created their climate emotions wheel with Dr. Pihkala based on his research, a tool to begin exploring one’s climate emotions now available in 30+ languages and in use by educators, clinicians, and museums around the world.
“Ecological and climate grief have, unfortunately often been disenfranchised grief: that is, grief which is not given social support or validation,” Dr. Pihkala said. “This has caused much unnecessary pain for the many who mourn the changing environments. With these new materials, anyone can join in a public movement to ‘franchise’ ecological grief: to give it voice and place.”
Studies and surveys show that an increasing majority of people around the world – and especially young people – are feeling a form of ecological and climate grief, more and more of them as a result of experiencing the direct impacts of environmental change, such as droughts, wildfires, or floods.
“Recognizing eco-grief is particularly essential for parents and educators who can teach
children that it’s not about avoiding sadness, but learning how to handle it in healthy, constructive ways,” said Anya Kamenetz, Climate Mental Health Network advisor and author, who co-authored the guide.
“ In a society that often pathologizes and buries sadness, we can show our children a better way.”
All About Climate Grief: What to Know and What To Do About It will be available beginning Wednesday, April 30 at https://www.climatementalhealth.net/grief-resources.
