Anxiety around climate change adding to mental health issues among America’s youth
Gen Zers and millennials are more anxious about climate change than their Baby Boomer counterparts. Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels.com
By Domenic Purdy
The American public is becoming increasingly anxious about climate change, especially younger generations.
Sixty eight percent of Americans feel climate change is affecting their mental health, according to a 2020 American Psychiatric Association poll. That number rose by 21 percentage points compared to 2019.
America’s youth are especially concerned: Sixty-seven percent of Generation Z (18-23 years) and 63% of millennials (24-39 years) are somewhat or very concerned about the impact of climate change on their mental health. Just 42% of Baby Boomers (56-74 years) and 58% of Gen Xers (40-55 years) feel the same, the poll...