Climate anxiety: Finding support and connection
Learning more about the climate crisis can sometimes leave us feeling anxious, overwhelmed or uncertain about the future.
If you're experiencing climate anxiety, you're not alone. There are organisations, groups and resources that offer emotional support, opportunities to connect with others and ways to turn concern into positive action.
Support and community organisations
Climate Psychology Alliance
Offers a range of support, including Climate Cafés (listening circles), free one-to-one therapeutic support, parent circles and group sessions.
You can also find them on Instagram: @climate.psychology.alliance.
Mothers Climate Action Network (Mothers CAN)
A local organisation supporting mothers who want to take action on the climate crisis. It offers a free five-week course, Anxiety to Action, designed to help mothers navigate climate anxiety and find constructive ways forward.
Friends of the Earth – Local Groups
Find your local Friends of the Earth group
There are local groups in:
Eastbourne – Eastbourne and District Friends of the Earth.
Saltdean – Saltdean Climate Action Network.
Falmer – Friends of the Earth Sussex Campus.
These groups offer opportunities to get involved in local and national campaigns, attend online and in-person events, connect with others and take action.
Friends of the Earth also provides resources to help challenge climate misinformation, including Climate change lies vs facts | Friends of the Earth Challenging climate disinformation - Friends of the Earth
The Resilience Project
Originally founded in Australia, The Resilience Project provides articles and resources to help people understand and navigate eco-anxiety.
Resources - The Resilience Project
Further reading and listening
The following resources explore climate anxiety and offer advice on how to manage it:
Natural History Museum: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-cope-with-eco-anxiety.html
Mental Health UK: https://mentalhealth-uk.org/news-and-insights/what-is-climate-anxiety-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/
BBC World Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15hMHoTYgzU&t=33s
Local action groups: Connecting with others and taking action
Taking action together can help us feel more connected, empowered and hopeful. Across Brighton and Hove, there are many groups bringing people together to campaign, share ideas and make a difference locally.
Here are some ways to get involved.
Extinction Rebellion Brighton
Part of a non-violent direct-action movement calling for urgent action in response to the global climate and ecological emergency.
The Brighton group also runs a samba drumming group, providing a creative and musical way to support climate action.
Surfers Against Sewage – Brighton
Part of a UK-wide network of Ocean Activist groups working together to protect and restore our oceans.
You can get involved by:
Checking how much sewage has been discharged in your local area.
Contacting your MP to ask them to support a strong Clean Water Bill.
Campaigning against sewage pollution.
Joining the People vs Plastic campaign.
Taking part in local beach cleans.
Greenpeace Brighton
https://greenwire.greenpeace.org.uk/s/group/0F94H000000CHkdSAG/greenpeace-brighton?language=en_GB
A local group made up of people from Brighton, Hove and surrounding areas who care about climate, nature and social justice.
The group meets regularly to organise creative campaigns and support national Greenpeace initiatives.
Meetings take place on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm, at the Lord Nelson Inn on Trafalgar Street, Brighton.
Activities include campaigning against polluters, challenging public narratives, collecting community testimonies, organising events and speaking directly to decision-makers.
Brighton Climate Action Network
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BrightonCAN/about
A broad network of individuals and organisations across Brighton and Hove. It provides a space for people to meet, share ideas, discuss challenges, develop projects and work together to address the climate crisis.
South East Climate Alliance (SECA)
Brings together environmental, community and faith groups from across the South East of England to coordinate action on climate change and biodiversity loss.
Originally established to encourage councils across the region to declare a climate emergency, SECA is now focusing on two main priorities:
Continuing to hold local councils accountable and maintaining pressure for meaningful climate action.
Strengthening and developing the regional network of organisations and communities working together.