The natural environment is changing, and people are worried about what it means for the future. That worry, which is increasingly becoming severe enough to cause distress and dysfunction, is called eco anxiety.
The American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica have defined eco-anxiety (aka climate anxiety) as “a chronic fear of environmental doom.” This fear can stem from direct experience of extreme weather events and environmental change (e.g., floods, forest fires, hurricanes, drought) or exposure to climate change information through news media and other sources.
For more information about eco-anxiety, who is at risk, and how to be supportive, please visit:
Please reach out to your EFAP for support if you are struggling with eco-anxiety or experiencing stress regarding the wildfires. We are here to offer counselling and other services which can help you cope during a difficult time.