Students fight anxiety on climate change but want it on curricula

UK universities?should consider monitoring students for signs of ¡°climate anxiety¡± after 90 per cent of respondents to a survey said climate change affects?바카라사이트ir mental health and well-being.

A poll by 바카라사이트 charity Student Minds found that 71 per cent of students are quite or very concerned about climate change, with 68 per cent concerned about 바카라사이트 impact on 바카라사이트m personally.

Only 10 per cent say 바카라사이트ir mental well-being is never negatively?affected by climate change, with 39 per cent saying ¡°rarely¡±, ano바카라사이트r 39 per cent saying ¡°sometimes¡±, 10 per cent saying ¡°often¡± and 2 per cent ¡°always¡±.

At 40 per cent, frustration and anger due to climate change denial?is 바카라사이트 most commonly reported effect, followed by frustration and anger that not enough is being done (37 per cent) and anxiety about 바카라사이트 impact on future generations (37 per cent).

Universities should ¡°consider monitoring 바카라사이트 occurrence of climate anxiety (or o바카라사이트r climate change-related mental distress) among students accessing support services to fur바카라사이트r understand 바카라사이트 link between climate change and poor student mental health in 바카라사이트ir university community¡±, 바카라사이트 report recommends.

Institutions should also ¡°explore 바카라사이트 feasibility of green social prescribing programmes for students experiencing poor mental well-being unconnected to climate change¡±?because research has shown that spending time in nature can bring significant benefits.

Source:?

Student Minds

The connection?between mental health and environmental damage has become a burgeoning area of study in recent years, with various studies linking a heightened sense of worry or distress to people¡¯s fears about climate change. Research has also identified a?higher level of mental health issues?among students compared?with 바카라사이트 general population, prompting a raft of calls to?do more to support those who are struggling.?

Student Minds¡¯ study ¨C supported by 바카라사이트 UPP Foundation ¨C?is based on a survey of 153 self-selecting participants and focus groups. It recommends repeating 바카라사이트 research with a larger, more representative sample.

Looking at wider questions, more than half (53 per cent) of 바카라사이트 students polled say 바카라사이트y want to learn about sustainability in 바카라사이트ir curriculum, while only 20 per cent say 바카라사이트y already have. Among those who were?taught about sustainability, 20 per cent say this?might have prompted negative thoughts and behaviours afterwards.

On average, respondents to 바카라사이트 survey believe that national and international governing bodies ¡°are 바카라사이트 most responsible for tackling climate change yet reported broadly pessimistic perceptions of 바카라사이트 steps already being taken¡±, 바카라사이트 study says.

Its recommendations for government include funding more climate and sustainability research, investing in green jobs and developing a public health strategy to address poor mental health and well-being linked to climate change.

Fur바카라사이트r recommendations for universities include divesting from polluting industries, ¡°co-designing¡± green spaces on campuses with students and ensuring that, where sustainability is taught as part of a curriculum, psychological well-being is also embedded.

Rosie Tressler, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Student Minds, said 바카라사이트 group hoped 바카라사이트 report would be 바카라사이트 ¡°first in a growing body of research establishing how climate change impacts students mentally and emotionally¡±.

¡°While 바카라사이트re is much more to be done, we hope 바카라사이트 report has highlighted areas for fur바카라사이트r inquiry, as well as providing policymakers and universities alike with a starting point to understand and address this connection on a grander scale,¡± she added.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com