Guest essay by Eric Worrall
According to a mental health provider in the remote West Australian town of Geraldton, climate anxiety is causing big problems for the local youth.
Climate change, natural disasters behind rising anxiety in Geraldton youth: mental health provider
ABC Mid West & Wheatbelt / By Bridget Herrmann Posted Yesterday at 10:45am
A youth mental health provider says there has been a steady increase in the number of young people presenting with anxiety in Geraldton this year.
Key points:
- Headspace says climate change, threat of natural disasters and COVID are affecting young people’s mental health
- The Geraldton clinic has seen an increase in young people with anxiety
- Experts say looking after key wellbeing aspects can lower anxiety
Headspace Geraldton manager Fiona Stewart said numbers were split evenly between males and females.
“We have definitely seen a gradual increase in numbers of young people presenting with anxiety rather than depression, and comorbidity definitely with autism spectrum disorder and anxiety,” she said.
“It’s unfortunate but I’m not surprised because nationally, young people are presenting into Headspace [clinics] with increased levels of anxiety, so we’re not alone in that.”
Ms Stewart said Tropical Cyclone Seroja and climate changes were common concerns underlying the youths’ anxiety, with people as young as 12 asking for help.
“We’re definitely seeing some themes around the comorbidity for young people,” she said.
…
Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-17/geraldton-anxiety-rise/100706758
Geraldton is also suffering a raging meth abuse epidemic, which might be contributing to the mental health crisis.
But its a real question which came first – the ice abuse or the climate anxiety? In 2019, a renowned drug abuse doctor Alex Wodak testified to a government inquiry that fear of climate change is driving young people to destroy their lives with hard drugs. Climate change wasn’t the only factor, but it was a significant contributing factor.
If you tell kids the world will end soon, and they’re doomed to a horrible miserable death, don’t be surprised if they don’t smile as much as they used to.
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A few years ago I knew a young man who helped my late wife and I with yard work. He was concerned with AGW and could not see any solution as his High School teachers were all on board the AGW wagon. then he joined the US Army. Ended up in Fairbanks. cured him of AGW anxiety . He is now based in Ft. Hucachua AZ. And likes it.
Kids and other weak minded types, inexperienced or without ability to question, are likely suicide statistics.
I encourage and parents or families of these statistical victims to search out those who caused this destructive behaviour.
The inevitable result of the constant panic-mongering.