conTEXT for advancing science: Finding a purpose to combat eco-anxiety

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by Kate Flynn

“We cannot be studied or cured apart from the planet” – James Hillman

Eco-anxiety

In 2019 climate anxiety was the “biggest pop-culture trend,” “climate emergency” was the word of the year by Oxford, and 71% of millennials expressed that climate change had a detrimental impact on their mental well-being (McGinn, 2019; Oxford, 2023; Hickman, 2021). Many feel helpless and guilty for living in an industrialized nation, thinking they are making the problem worse and not knowing how to contribute positively (Wray, 2022). In 2017 the American Psychological Association defined eco-anxiety as the “chronic fear of environmental doom” (Clayton, 2017). In this blog post, I hope to validate your eco-anxiety and motivate you to participate in change; for yourself, your family, your community, your patients, your future, and the world.

Silos to policy

Nursing is dramatically shifting from practicing in silos to tackling the root cause of those adverse events at the policy level. This paradigm shift is referred to as global to planetary health. What do I mean by this?

In the past, as healthcare providers, we have stayed in our lanes so to speak. As an operating room (OR) nurse, I worked on issues specifically related to the OR and was seen as an overstep to ask about issues related to state or federal politics or issues seen to be outside of the hospital. Now, we are starting to understand our responsibility to our patients outside of the hospital and prevent the causes of their disease states in the first place.

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The connection

Eco-anxiety

Take comfort

“Eco-distress is a sign of connection to the world; it is a normal reaction to the injustices being inflicted upon the planet and its living creatures” (Wray, 2022, p 35)

Purpose

“anxiety about the climate… must be harnessed and purposefully directed outward for justice-oriented results” (Wray, 2022, p 29)

As the effects of climate change become increasingly evident, many people worldwide are experiencing eco-anxiety, a term used to describe the anxiety and stress related to environmental issues. This includes concerns about the impact of climate change on the planet, its ecosystems, and its inhabitants. A 2021 survey showed that 71% of millennials feel climate change negatively impacts their mental health. This phenomenon has given rise to a new paradigm in nursing called "planetary nursing."

Planetary nursing is a concept that is gaining popularity in the healthcare sector as nurses and healthcare providers become more aware of the impact of environmental issues on human health. It promotes health and well-being by addressing the root causes of environmental problems, such as pollution, climate change, and unsustainable lifestyles.

The concept of planetary nursing involves a shift in thinking from a traditional focus on individual patient care to a more holistic approach that considers the broader environmental context. It acknowledges that health is not just about treating illness but also promoting a healthy environment and preventing disease. By addressing the root causes of environmental problems, planetary nursing can help to reduce the incidence of health problems caused by environmental factors.

In addition to promoting health and well-being, planetary nursing offers nurses and healthcare providers a sense of purpose and meaning in their work. By working towards a healthier planet, nurses can feel they are making a meaningful contribution to society and the world.

There are many ways that nurses and healthcare providers can contribute to planetary nursing. For example, they can advocate for policies that promote environmental sustainability, incorporate environmental education into patient care, and promote sustainable practices in healthcare facilities.

In conclusion, eco-anxiety is a growing concern for many people, and planetary nursing offers a promising new approach to addressing the environmental issues that underlie it. By promoting health and well-being through sustainable practices and policies, nurses and healthcare providers can make a meaningful contribution to the planet's health and its inhabitants while finding purpose and meaning in their work.

References

Gist

2019’s biggest pop-culture trend was climate anxiety: Billie Eilish, “Big Little Lies,” Megan Thee Stallion’s Instagram Live: The climate crisis kept popping up in unexpected places.

Dec 27, 2019

Miyo McGinn

https://grist.org/politics/2019s-biggest-pop-culture-trend-was-climate-anxiety/

Oxford Languages

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2023

Word of the Year 2019

https://languages.oup.com/word-of-the-year/2019/

https://seechangeinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Climate-Change-and-Youth-Mental-Health-Report.pdf

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00278-3/fulltext

Hickman, Marks, E., Pihkala, P., Clayton, S., Lewandowski, R. E., Mayall, E. E., Wray, B., Mellor, C., & van Susteren, L. (2021). Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey. The Lancet. Planetary Health, 5(12), e863–e873. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00278-3

156 Haaland, M. (2021, September 6). Majority of young American adults say climate change influences their decision to have children. SWNS Digital. NOTE: The methods of this survey were not made available, so we cannot determine the quality of this survey data. The percentages cited could be artificially high due to selection bias or other issues. While the percentages may not be accurate, the general findings that the reality of climate change impacts important life decisions among youth is supported by other research.

Marks, E., et al. (2021). Young people’s voices on climate anxiety, government betrayal and moral injury: A global phenomenon.

Kurth, & Pihkala, P. (2022). Eco-anxiety: What it is and why it matters. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 981814–981814. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.981814

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.981814/full

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Bilski, J. (2022, June 5). Volume 9: Back to basics. River People Rebuild. https://riverpeoplerebuild.substack.com/p/volume-9-back-to-basics

Wray, B., & Bilski, J. (2023, April 27). “Why I’m so happy about eco-anxiety:” Writer Jared Bilski talks about living through a natural disaster. Gen Dread. https://gendread.substack.com/p/why-im-so-happy-about-eco-anxiety

Clayton, S., Manning, C., Krygsman, K., & Speiser, M. (2017). Mental health and our changing climate: Impacts, implications, and guidance. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica.

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/03/mental-health-climate.pdf

Kurth, & Pihkala, P. (2022). Eco-anxiety: What it is and why it matters. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 981814–981814. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.981814

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/03/ce-climate-change

My life would have followed a very different trajectory if the climate crisis had been tackled when Dr James Hansen first warned the world in 1988 – a few years before I was born.”

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