Don't Treat Mental Health And Climate Change As Isolated Issues

Eco-anxiety is on the rise, particularly among young people. We need more integrated efforts to tackle this.

- Anthea Ong

Seven years ago, I participated in a climate expedition to Antarctica, where I witnessed the fragile ice shelves vulnerable to collapse amid rising global temperatures. That experience sparked emotions which I've come to understand as "eco-anxiety" — a deep sense of distress at the environmental devastation we are witnessing.

This eventually led me to start WorkWell Leaders, a leadership-focused charity advocating for well-being and sustainable growth in the workplace.

I was able to channel my anxiety into action, but many might not be so lucky. Studies show that eco-anxiety is rising, particularly among young people. Social media amplifies this distress, making it feel as if the future is already beyond repair.

Those with eco-anxiety often experience higher rates of depression, anxiety and stress, and report lower overall mental well-being. The stress of knowing what is happening to our planet can breed powerlessness and even apathy.

A young woman I know had to quit her job due to eco-anxiety, coupled with the guilt of complicity in "greenwashing" — conveying a false impression that a company's products are environmentally sound — at one of the top employers in Singapore.

"I was feeling more and more depressed, and dreaded going to work every day," she said.

She is not alone. More than a few young working adults have reached out to me in recent times to share how conflicted and in despair they felt working for companies that simply did not care about the climate crisis. This inevitably leads to presenteeism — physically present but mentally absent — and quiet quitting.

Yet, the dual crises of mental health and climate change have long been viewed as separate challenges. As we gain a deeper understanding, it becomes clear that they are intricately interconnected. Mental health, once sidelined, is now receiving the attention it deserves.