Informing future directions for climate anxiety interventions: a mixed-method study of professional perspectives

Abstract

Despite reports of increasing levels of climate change related distress, there remains limited evidence regarding effective interventions for individuals and communities. The current study aims to contribute to this discussion by presenting opinions from study participants who self-identified as having a professional interest in climate anxiety. An international interdisciplinary survey was conducted, with qualitative and quantitative responses from 230 participants, from a range of professional backgrounds, including a range of mental health practitioners, along with climate activists, artists, educators, academics and scientists and others interested in the climate anxiety space. A wide range of potential components of climate anxiety interventions were suggested by participants, including supporting people to connect with others and nature, emotional validation in a group setting, and moving toward climate action. Reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative data resulted in five themes: ‘Climate anxiety is a healthy response to the current situation’, ‘Climate anxiety will continue to increase until there is climate action’, ‘Climate anxiety interventions should be individualised’, ‘Climate anxiety interventions need to include the community and societal level’ and ‘Climate-aware practitioners are required’. These themes provide a significant contribution to the discourse on climate anxiety interventions. They emphasize the need for an understanding of climate anxiety as a legitimate response to the current situation and the imperative of community and society levels being included in intervention strategies. Results from this study provide insights from diverse perspectives to provide valuable guidance for future research and practice in the development of effective interventions for climate anxiety.