How to consume climate news with care

Sometimes the news about the state of the world, especially the climate, can be triggering and scary, and that’s understandable.

According to a poll by the American Psychiatric Association, as of the end of 2020, over 60% of Americans were somewhat or extremely concerned about the effects of climate change on the Earth. More than half are concerned about the impact of climate change on their mental health.

And climate news is all around us – on the local news, on podcasts, even in your social media feed.

Fear of climate change is entirely justified, says Margaret Klein Salamon, executive director of the Climate Emergency Fund with a PhD in clinical psychology and author of Facing the Climate Emergency: How to Transform Yourself with Climate Truth.

appreciative and pronounce yours feelings plus Confirming that these are normal reactions to a big problem can actually be helpful for your mental health, Salamon tells CNBC Make It.

“If you’re reading climate news and you’re feeling anxious, angry, and overwhelmed with sadness and grief or whatever … you need to remind yourself with an attitude of self-compassion that all of these feelings are normal,” she says, “You’re not alone with your feelings.”

• take action. The ideal way to consume climate news with care is to balance news consumption with activism, says Salamon. Taking action can be your own form of an antidote to the anxiety you’re feeling, she says.

  If you’re not sure where to start, consider donating to organizations that provide funds for climate activists like the Climate Emergency Fund.

• Fact check first. According to Patrick Kennedy-Williams, co-founder of UK-based Climate Psychologists, fact-checking the news you come across before reacting can also be helpful for your mental health, especially if you’re unsure if they are correct. and author of Turn the Tide on Climate Anxiety.

  “Of course, confusion breeds fear. So the more unsure we are about whether something is myth or reality, the more anxious we are because we just don’t know what to believe,” says Kennedy-Williams.

  He recommends double-checking the news you see on NASA’s website, as the agency often breaks down popular myths for the general public.

• Balance yourself with positive news. Also, consider checking for positive climate news, especially if you’re starting to feel hopeless about what’s happening in the world like Kennedy-Williams previously did.

  “We had wildfires right in the valley across the street from where I live last year so we could see the flames outside our window. We also had severe flooding years ago. Those things, when they land on your doorstep, they’re really difficult to manage,” says Kennedy-Williams.

  In those moments, he made sure to avoid things that triggered him and looked to the positive efforts of climate activists that benefited the world.

  “Around the world there are all kinds of advances. People come together and make a big difference,” he says, “Yes, it’s a really pressing issue. Yes, we all have to do everything we can and governments and companies are accountable and we have to do it now. But there are people all over the world who are doing amazing things.

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