Young people need help dealing with climate change and other forms of eco-anxiety

Young people on Long Island are observing extreme weather patterns exacerbated by the climate crisis — locally and abroad. Last June, Canadian fires brought smoke to the steps of Half Hollow Hills High School East, and we saw earthquakes in Morocco, flooding in Libya, sweltering summer temperatures, and wildfires in Greece.

As an educator and a nonprofit leader focused on helping refugees, we see the multifaceted way climate change is impacting communities worldwide. As we look ahead to a summer of more extreme weather, many of us — particularly young people — feel helpless, wondering: What can we do to stop the worst from happening?

These thoughts are part of a wave of “eco-anxiety” among young people. According to a study by the American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica, young adults experience the highest levels of anxiety and worry. Two-thirds of 18-to-23-year-olds reported that they are somewhat or very concerned about the impact the climate crisis is having on their mental health. Students experience this threat much like previous generations experienced Cold War-era fears over nuclear annihilation, says Heather White, founder of One Green Thing, which focuses on the mental health impacts of the climate crisis.

Researchers have found that “meaning-focused strategies” that emphasize individual action promote resilience in the face of ecological and climate-related threats. These strategies also build long-lasting hope for the future and instill trust in our youth to play their part, according to psychologist and author Maria Ojala. This growing body of work indicates the importance and urgency of validating, educating, and activating our youth to cope with climate stressors.

We have teamed up with Students Rebuild, a program engaging young people in art activism, to address the climate crisis and positively impact society. Participation is free, and each art submission generates donations for communities affected by the climate crisis. Millions of students from Long Island, New York, and the United Kingdom have participated in this art project, advocating for causes such as human rights, equality, and environmental sustainability. These annual global art projects raise funds for various causes and allow students to engage deeply with complex issues by expressing themselves through meaningful and personalized art.

At Half Hollow Hills High School East, students engaged in the Extraordinary Earth Project to explore global issues not typically covered in classrooms. They discovered that small actions, like creating a piece of art, can significantly impact the issues they care about most. In February, High School East hosted its annual Students Rebuild Day, producing over 18,000 works of art in just one day. These contributions were submitted to the Extraordinary Earth Project, raising an impressive $180,000 in donations for project partners.

As educators and nonprofit leaders, we can’t continue to ignore the problems in our classrooms and the world around us. We must listen, give space, and empower this generation of young people eager for change to grow into action-oriented leaders themselves.

What if all 75.2 million students in America took one small action to protect our planet? What about the approximately 336,000 who live in Suffolk County? Our collective ecosystems, mental health, and future outlook would be forever altered — for the better. Let’s give our students a fighting chance to build their own futures and make a direct impact.

This guest essay reflects the views of Cynthia Cullen, a social studies teacher at Half Hollow Hills High School East, and Josie Naughton, co-founder and chief executive of Choose Love, a UK-based nonprofit providing aid and advocacy for refugees worldwide.