SECTION 5 - Impacts 12+, Mental and Emotional Health Climate Anxiety,P1 AGE RANGE: 12+ Mental and Emotional Health SUBJECTS: OBJECTIVES: • Learners will be able to identify when they are feeling stressed or anxious • The learner will apply one or more of the exercises to help them de-stress and lower their anxiety. • The learner will compare how they felt before doing the exercise and after doing the exercise and determine if they are ready to resume their other activity. If they are not ready they will do another exercise and evaluate again after completing the exercise if they are able to resume their other activity. DURATION ENDURING UNDERSTANDING • Each activity could take 30-45 minutes • The emotional toll of climate change, which can decrease motivation, providing tools to make emotions more manageable. In 2021, several academics focused an international survey on young people aged 16-25 and concluded that “the psychological (emotional, cognitive, social, and functional) burdens of climate change are profoundly affecting huge numbers of young people around the world.” Of the 10,000 participants surveyed: • 95% of respondents were at least a little worried about climate change, with 59% of respondents feeling extremely or very worried • 45% reported that their worries impacted their functioning • Over 60% of respondents felt sad, afraid and anxious • Over 50% felt angry, powerless, helpless and guilty — The Carbon Almanac ACTIVITIES: GROUP DISCUSSION: • When we discuss climate change facts, how does it make you feel? Brainstorm a list. (write the ideas on the board or large sheet of paper that everyone can see and refer to) ʦ Is there room for optimism? ʦ How can we take back some power in this situation? EXERCISE IN EMPATHY/SONDER: • Create a second list on the board or on a second piece of large paper. (It is important that all this information is visible to the learners) ʦ How do you think other people feel when faced with these numbers? ʦ Often young people are angry about the situation they have been left with - can you imagine what emotions decision- makers experience? RESOURCES: T • The Carbon Almanac - Impacts: Eco-Anxiety, p.154/ 252 • The Book of Hope, Jane Goodall, Douglas Abrams, Celadon Books, 2021 • Exercises for Brain Integration and Stress Management 29