Three ways climate change affects mental health – and why the story is more hopeful than it might seem

As headlines about heatwaves, floods and wildfires become more frequent, many people report a growing sense of worry about what climate change means for their future. Some recent media reports have even suggested that emotions like “eco-grief” could drive people toward unhealthy coping strategies, including increased use of alcohol or drugs.

But this framing misses the bigger picture. Research shows that climate change affects mental health in several ways – yet it also reveals something more hopeful.

Here is what the science tells us.