Coping strategies for climate change anxiety: a perspective on building resilience through psychological capital.

Abstract

As the global impacts of climate change become more apparent, there is a corresponding increase in the psychological effects of the phenomenon, including climate change anxiety, stress and helplessness or hopelessness. Positive psychology provides a promising approach for tackling these mental health challenges by consolidating mental strength and building resilience. In this article, we consider how positive psychological coping mechanisms can lessen the negative impacts of climate change on mental health, especially in vulnerable populations. Based on evidence-based concepts such as psychological capital, positive psychology interventions seek to empower individuals, bolstering their capacity for optimism, self-efficacy and problem solving. By transforming anxiety into proactive behaviour, interventions such as mindfulness, cognitive reframing and encouraging environmental engagement could assist individuals in navigating the emotional toll of climate change. Although these strategies are not a solution to the climate crisis itself, they are adaptative strategies that equip individuals and communities with the means to cope with climate-related challenges more effectively and take positive actions. This perspective note also addresses the significance of incorporating these techniques into public health educational initiatives and policy-making, highlighting the necessity of accessible interventions that can be tailored to various cultural and socioeconomic contexts. Accordingly, we specifically discuss how positive psychology can be leveraged to foster resilience and hope, providing insight into how these concepts can support mental health and well-being in an era of climate change crisis.