Climate Hysteria Can Correlate with Suicidal Behavior

A study published in the Annual Review of Environment and Resources points out that for a long time, many people didn't see climate change as something that directly affected them, often thinking of it as a distant or abstract issue. However, this perception has changed in recent years, partly because of media and educational campaigns focusing on the negative impacts of climate change. These efforts have tended to highlight alarming news, while sometimes downplaying positive developments, like how carbon emissions have led to some positive environmental effects, such as increased plant growth.

The study emphasizes that for many people, their experience with climate change is shaped more by what they see in the media than by direct personal experiences. Media exposure plays a big role in how concerned people are about the issue. One study from 2019 found that Norwegians who were exposed to a United Nations report on climate change became more concerned about its potential impacts. This concern seemed to be stronger among people with certain political views.

In fact, some research suggests that exposure to such reports can create intense anxiety, particularly among younger people. A study published in 2020 found that climate change anxiety is common, especially among younger adults, with some even considering not having children due to fears about the future. In 2021, a survey of 10,000 young people aged 16-25 revealed that 39% of respondents were hesitant to have children because of concerns over climate change.

In more severe cases, chronic exposure to climate change-related fears has been linked to emotional distress and even suicidal thoughts. One study published in Nature Medicine showed how climate-related stress can contribute to mental health struggles, particularly for people who have been repeatedly exposed to alarming news without personal experience to balance it out. For some, this kind of prolonged anxiety can lead to a significant decline in well-being.