When the climate crisis becomes personal

I came across this article today and wanted to share it to explore the impact the climate crisis is having on our collective mental health. See the article at: https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/article/how-common-is-severe-climate-change-anxiety-in-canada-study-offers-a-glimpse/

I have been blessed to spend many years living in a rural environment surrounded by nature. I moved from Toronto to Bancroft, Ontario when I was 10 years old. I grew accustomed to being surrounded by trees, lakes, rocks, and wildlife. I didn't realize just how rich an experience it was until I left for University where I lived in downtown Montreal. The deep contrast between rural and urban life lead me to observe how our modern ways of living deplete resources and harm the natural world.

My adult life was built in an urban environment. I now live in the suburbs around Ottawa. I have always longed to ensure that we have a more sustainable path forward. I have attempted to live more simply as a result. This shows up in many activities throughout my life--my occupations have been adapted with a more ecologically sustainable view-point. I hope to share that with others through activities like gardening, home food preparation and preservation, developing hobbies and creating and participating in community projects to improve overall quality of life.

Our anxiety can stem from feelings and beliefs of disempowerment, lack of control over world events and a focus on the poor state of the environment. This is becoming more prevalent over time amongst young people. I have noticed people in my own life making decisions about their future based on these feelings and beliefs. It is difficult to watch and even harder to live.

Occupational therapy can focus on changing the patterns of poor locus of control over the environment by changing how we engage in our everyday occupations. It could be through behavioral activation and the creation of a garden, for example. Food quality improves, reliance on transportation to obtain food products decreases and our food supply has less chemical fertilizers and pesticides that can impact our health and environment. Preservation of the foods we grow can allow us to save money throughout the year. Extra food can be shared with our neighbors or local food banks to improve overall food security within the community and create a sense of belonging. A home-based hobby can decrease your spending on other less healthy or expensive habits and activities. There are multiple benefits to engaging in that one occupation. Learning about the different growing seasons, native plant species and medicinal herbs can increase your independence overall and allow you to engage in projects of reconciliation with First Nations. These activities can be beneficial for you personally, but also collectively.

I hope you can engage with local projects and activities. Some of us want greater confidence to start though. This is why I offer workshops in gardening and plan to do so in other areas of living more simply and sustainably. If you wish to have therapy that caters to your climate anxiety, your services can be individualized for your specific concerns and needs. So join in on a workshop or book your appointment. I look forward to helping you grow in new ways.