Essay by Eric Worrall
Fear of the fake climate crisis causes the real harm. Will these government funded researchers have the courage to put this in their report?
$6 million for research on climate and mental health
The Government is addressing the human health impacts of climate change, with $6 million for Australia’s leading researchers to study and combat the mental health challenges of climate change.
The Hon Rebecca White MP
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health
Assistant Minister for WomenMedia event date: 24 September 2026
Date published: 24 September 2026
Media type: Media release
Audience: General publicThe Albanese Government is committed to addressing the human health impacts of climate change, with $6 million for Australia’s leading researchers to study and combat the mental health challenges of climate change.
The Australian Government has awarded $6 million to 3 new research projects through the Medical Research Future Fund.
Projects will study and devise methods to improve the mental health and wellbeing of people affected by climate change, with a particular focus on First Nations people.
Adelaide University, the University of Melbourne and the Menzies School of Health Research have each been awarded almost $2 million each to research, advise on policy, and implement local community strategies. Each of these projects was identified through a competitive application process, and assessed by independent assessment committees.
Climate change disproportionately affects First Nations communities as the distress of unprecedented droughts, longer summers and continued extreme weather events lead to heritage and environmental loss. Two of the three projects will include a focus on the experience of First Nations communities.
Full details of the awarded grants are in the table below.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister White:
“The grants from the Albanese Government will provide some of Australia’s top researchers with the funds they need to improve mental health support for Australian’s impacted by climate change.
“These projects will deliver a range of practical, community-led responses to emerging mental health challenges with an important focus on First Nations communities impacted by climate change.”
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McBride:
“Two in five young people experience mental health challenges each year. These aren’t just numbers – they’re our family, our friends, our teammates and our colleagues.
“We’re living through challenging times, and supporting the mental health of Australians remains a clear priority for the Albanese Labor Government.
“If you’re feeling overwhelmed, I encourage you to speak with a health professional at your local Medicare Mental Health Centre or reach out to headspace.”
Applicant name Organisation Project Title Project Description Grant Value (GST exclusive) Associate Professor Toby Freeman Adelaide University Helping prevent mental health deterioration at scale: Mitigating the population mental health impacts from climate breakdown-related loss or anticipated loss of heritage As climate breakdown intensifies, communities are increasingly experiencing psychological distress. In particular, the loss or anticipated loss of natural and cultural heritage, including cherished landscapes, ecosystems, and culturally significant places, can lead to grief, distress and anxiety. This project will deliver practical resources for communities and the mental health system, and actionable policy recommendations to mitigate mental health impacts of heritage and environmental loss. $1,942,278.00 Associate Professor Supriya Mathew Menzies School of Health Research Pintupi-led climate yarning to mitigate climate change-related mental health risks In partnership with Pintupi people and the Pintupi Homelands Health Service, the project will co-design, implement, and evaluate strategies and resources aimed at reducing both current and emerging mental health risks linked to climate-related stress. By working closely with the community and local stakeholders, the project will empower residents and remote health staff to take an active role in addressing the social and emotional wellbeing challenges brought on by climate change. $1,997,077.60 Professor Victoria Palmer University of Melbourne Gathering the parts, making the whole: Lost but not Forgotten, participatory ecosystems to mitigate impacts of climate change on mental health Climate changes disproportionately impact Indigenous communities, and younger generations are expressing increased eco-grief and eco-anxieties. Across 50 remote art and cultural centres, communities of the Great Southern region of WA, Tennant Creek in NT and a national story sharing project, we will illustrate how participatory ecosystems protect culture, Country and offer two-way learning to mitigate the mental health impacts of climate change and co-design prevention for future generations. $1,994,458.10 Total Commitment Expenditure (GST exclusive) $5,933,813.70 Minister:
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Source: https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-rebecca-white-mp/media/6-million-for-research-on-climate-and-mental-health?language=en
There is no doubt a lot of young people especially are suffering mental health problems because of climate change, but it is not changes to the climate which is doing the damage – it is the relentless fake doomsday predictions they are force fed from primary school which is doing the real harm.
Fear of climate doomsday is likely contributing to the drug abuse crisis which is destroying the lives of our young people. The following is from Dr Wodak, who testified to a government meth addiction inquiry in 2019.
I mean if you think you’re going to die before adulthood, that the world is doomed, and nobody is doing anything to prevent this calamity, you can understand why people in this horrifying predicament turn to abusing hard drugs to numb the pain.
I wonder how much damage that climate doomsday messaging is doing in outback aboriginal communities which are the focus of two of the three grants? Are young people in remote communities drinking themselves to death because they think they’re going to die anyway from climate change?
The worst thing about all this climate doomsday propaganda is it is all a big falsehood. There is zero chance anthropogenic climate change in the foreseeable future will make the world uninhabitable for humans. Even if all the worst case climate doomsday predictions were to manifest, the proof we would be just fine is that our monkey ancestors thrived in a much hotter world. The Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, 5-8C hotter than today, was the age of monkeys. Our monkey ancestors thrived on the abundance of the hothouse PETM, and colonised much of the world, only retreating when the cold returned.
If a bunch of monkey ancestors with brains the size of match boxes could thrive in such conditions, then we could certainly do at least as well.
I hope one of those professors finds the courage to bite the hand which feeds them, and return a finding that the best thing which can be done to improve the mental health of vulnerable people affected by climate change, is to eliminate the government funded fake climate doomsday propaganda which drove them into such a state of fear and despair.
