Resources for mental health professionals

​Introducing Climate Psychology: Facing the Climate Crisis – A free self-guided Open University course exploring the psychological dimensions of climate change, including emotional responses, behavioral barriers, and strategies for resilience in mental health practice here.

Handbook of Climate Psychology – A comprehensive guide from the Climate Psychology Alliance, covering key concepts such as grief, loss, coping strategies, and radical hope in the context of climate change, with practical insights for mental health professionals here.

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Climate Change and Mental Health – Imperial College London – A microcourse exploring the psychological impacts of climate change, developed by Imperial College London, with insights into eco-anxiety, resilience, and mental health strategies for practitioners here.

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Active Hope – Joanna Macy & Chris Johnstone – A transformative approach to climate resilience, offering mental health professionals tools for navigating eco-anxiety, grief, and uncertainty through a free online course and book here.

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Psychology for a Safe Climate – Resources – An Australian collection of publications, podcasts, and practical tools designed to help mental health professionals understand and address climate distress, burnout, and resilience in their practice here.

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Ecopsychepedia – A collaborative online encyclopedia exploring the psychological dimensions of the climate crisis. Organized around themes like denial, climate emotions, resilience, and justice, it offers accessible, research-informed entries to help individuals and professionals understand how human psychology both shapes and is shaped by ecological disruption here.

Boulanger, G. (2013). Fearful symmetry: Shared trauma in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 23(1), 31–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/10481885.2013.750514

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Hickman, C., Marks, E., Pihkala, P., Clayton, S., Lewandowski, R. E., Mayall, E. E., Wray, B., Mellor, C., & van Susteren, L. (2021). Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: A global survey. The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(12), e863–e873. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00278-3

Launch of research here

​Academic Perspectives and broader social implications here

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​Gelmini, S. (2025, February 3). Majority of under-12s worried about climate change, survey shows. Greenpeace UK. https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/majority-of-under-12s-worried-about-climate-change-survey-shows/

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Joore, N. L., van der Horst, M. Z., Noorthoorn, E. O., Strous, J. F. M., Vruwink, F. J., Guloksuz, S., Siegmund, P. C., & Luykx, J. J. (2025). Positive associations between mean ambient temperature and involuntary admissions to psychiatric facilities. European Psychiatry, 68(1), e2. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.1800

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Watts, N., Adger, W. N., Agnolucci, P., Blackstock, J., Byass, P., Cai, W., ... & Costello, A. (2015). Health and climate change: policy responses to protect public health. The Lancet, 386(10006), 1861–1914. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60854-6​

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Woodland, L., Ratwatte, P., Phalkey, R., & Gillingham, E. L. (2023). Investigating the Health Impacts of Climate Change among People with Pre-Existing Mental Health Problems: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(8), Article 5563. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20085563

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Xue, S., Massazza, A., Akhter-Khan, S. C., Wray, B., Husain, M. I., & Lawrance, E. L. (2024). Mental health and psychosocial interventions in the context of climate change: A scoping review. NPJ Mental Health Research, 3, Article 10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44184-024-00054-1

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​Climate Cares – Imperial College London – A  collection of research, reports, and practical insights on the intersection of climate change and mental health, including guidance for practitioners on supporting clients through climate-related distress here.

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Connecting Climate Minds Hub – A global digital platform funded by Wellcome, designed to unite mental health and climate change research, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and action among practitioners, researchers, and communities here.

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Publications – Climate Psychology Alliance – A collection of articles, books, and research exploring the psychological dimensions of climate change, including climate distress, resilience, and therapeutic approaches for mental health professionals here.

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Lancet Countdown  Collaboration – A global academic initiative tracking the evolving impacts of climate change on human health. It brings together over 300 researchers from leading institutions and UN agencies to inform policy and promote health-centered climate action here.

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Training & Events – Climate Psychology Alliance – A UK-based hub offering workshops, professional development, and community events for mental health professionals seeking to integrate climate psychology into their practice here.

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Living with the Climate Crisis – Climate Psychology Alliance – A psychologically informed group-based model designed to help people respond creatively and collectively to the climate emergency. Offers facilitator training, session guides, and community-building tools for climate-aware practitioners and organizers here.

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10 Steps to Personal Resilience & Empowerment – Good Grief Network – A peer-support program designed to help individuals process climate-related grief and anxiety, fostering emotional resilience and meaningful action through a structured 10-step approach here.

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Climate-Informed Disaster Mental Health Series – Climate Psychology Alliance of North America – A four-part training series (runs June-Aug 2025) designed to equip mental health professionals with the skills to support clients and communities affected by climate-driven disasters here.​

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Climate Crisis Advisory Group – CCAG – A global advisory body offering accessible monthly public briefings on the latest climate science and solutions, aimed at informing the public, media, and policymakers here.

Climate Café® – Global Network Hub – A community-led initiative providing informal, inclusive spaces for people to gather, discuss climate change, and take action, fostering emotional resilience and connection here.

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Find Support & Train as a Climate Cafe Facilitator – Climate Psychology Alliance – A UK-based directory offering therapeutic support, climate cafés, and listening circles for individuals struggling with eco-distress, alongside resources for mental health professionals seeking to integrate climate-aware practices here.

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Climate Café for Therapists – Run by EMDR UK every 3 months, an informal, welcoming space for mental health professionals to reflect on and process emotions related to climate change, fostering connection and resilience through guided discussions here.

​Anderson, J., Staunton, T., O’Gorman, J., & Hickman, C. (Eds.). (2024). Being a therapist in a time of climate breakdown. Taylor & Francis.

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Bednarek, S. (2024). Climate, psychology, and change: Reimagining psychotherapy in an era of global disruption and climate anxiety. North Atlantic Books.

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Gillespie, S. (2019). Climate crisis and consciousness: Re-imagining our world and ourselves. Routledge.

Hoggett, P. (Ed.). (2019). Climate psychology: On indifference to disaster. Palgrave Macmillan.

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Hollway, W., et al. (2022). Climate psychology: A matter of life and death. Phoenix Publishing House. Book launch video

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Young, C. H. (2023). Spinning out: Climate change, mental health and fighting for a better future. Footnote Press.

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Kennedy-Woodard, M., & Kennedy-Williams, P. (2022). Turn the tide on climate anxiety: Sustainable action for your mental health and the planet. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

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Macy, J., & Johnstone, C. (2012). Active hope: How to face the mess we're in without going crazy. New World Library.

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Orange, D. (2016). Climate crisis, psychoanalysis, and radical ethics. Routledge.

Rust, M.-J. (2020). Towards an ecopsychotherapy. Confer Books

Rust, M.-J., & Totton, N. (Eds.). (2012). Vital signs. Karnac Books.​

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Searles, H. F. (1972). Unconscious processes in relation to the environmental crisis. Psychoanalytic Review, 59, 361–374.

Weintrobe, S. (2021). Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis. Bloomsbury Academic.

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Essential Reading List – Climate Psychology Alliance of North America – A curated selection of foundational texts on climate psychology, offering mental health professionals insights into climate emotions, resilience, and therapeutic approaches here.​

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Mental Health in the Climate Crisis – Thrive LDN – A collection of free online tools, resources, and interactive exercises designed to support mental health professionals in addressing climate-related distress and promoting resilience in their communities here.

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Grief Resources – Climate Mental Health Network – A collection of tools and insights to help mental health professionals understand and support clients experiencing climate-related grief, informed by research on eco-anxiety and emotional resilience here.

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Building Your Tolerance for Uncertainty – Anxiety Canada – A practical guide offering strategies for mental health professionals to help clients manage uncertainty, reduce anxiety, and build resilience in the face of climate-related stress here.

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Climate Courage Campaign – Teacher resources – A Climate Majority Project initiative, offering educators and mental health professionals resources to support emotional resilience and engagement with climate realities here.​

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Project Inside Out – A global initiative led by psychologist Renée Lertzman, offering mental health professionals evidence-based tools and strategies to engage communities in climate action through emotional resilience and behavior change here.

Many members of our coalition have delivered training in aspects of climate psychology and wellbeing and would be happy to share materials. Contact us on the email below to inquire (pls allow 2-3 months)

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American Psychological Association (APA) – A research-based overview of how climate change affects mental health, covering gender-based violence, PTSD, suicide rates, aggression, and climate anxiety here.

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Mental Health and Climate Change – WHO Policy Brief – A World Health Organization report outlining the mental health impacts of climate change, including increased anxiety, depression, and PTSD, with recommendations for integrating mental health support into climate policies here.

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Mental Health Foundation (UK) – A report from COP26 discussing the direct and indirect mental health effects of climate change, including institutional mistrust, powerlessness, and inequalities here.

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Climate Change and Student Mental Health - Student Minds A UK report exploring how climate change affects student wellbeing, agency, and engagement in higher education. It highlights the emotional toll of climate anxiety and offers recommendations for universities and policymakers to support student mental health in a warming world here.

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Everyone’s Environment – Think NPC – A UK-based collaboration with 80 charities led by New Philanthropy Capital (NPC).  Resources, toolkits, visual summaries, and strategic guidance on the disproportionate impacts of climate and nature crises on different communities including the youth, ethnic minorities, and people in poverty here.

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