Have you ever felt uneasy when thinking about the future of the planet? This feeling has a name: eco-anxiety, or climate anxiety. As we will see, it is becoming increasingly common.
Characterized by anguish and concern about climate change, eco-anxiety especially affects people in vulnerable situations or who have already faced environmental disasters.
But why does this matter to companies? In this article, we will understand how this feeling can impact the well-being of employees and why HR and leaders should be aware of it!
What is ecoanxiety?
According to the American Psychological Association (APA) , ecoanxiety can be defined as a chronic fear of environmental destruction.
Although this sentiment has been observed for at least a decade, the rapid pace of climate change makes environmental anxiety increasingly common.
In Brazil, the numbers help to understand this reality: between 1991 and 2022, the country recorded more than 23 thousand environmental disasters , with 8.2 million people displaced or homeless due to floods, flash floods and landslides.
In 2024, the Federal Government indicated that almost 35% of Brazilian municipalities were susceptible to these events.
How does ecoanxiety manifest itself?
Faced with so many extreme events, such as the floods in Rio Grande do Sul in 2024, it is not surprising that more people are feeling the emotional impacts of climate events.
The American Psychological Association (APA) itself estimates that around 25% to 50% of people exposed to environmental disasters may develop mental health problems, such as climate anxiety.
This type of phenomenon, in particular, manifests itself through the following symptoms:
- constant concern for the future of the planet;
- anguish and intense fear of environmental disasters;
- feeling of helplessness in the face of climate change;
- obsessive thoughts about the subject;
- sleep disorders , fatigue and difficulty concentrating.
These signs can vary from person to person. But regardless of the intensity, one thing is certain: eco-anxiety directly impacts the individual’s quality of life and emotional well-being.
Impacts of climate anxiety in the workplace
Any problem that deeply affects emotions, even if it was not caused by working conditions, deserves the attention of companies.
After all, people who are dealing with 4 ways outsourcing can improve how your organization delivers software eco-anxiety often face challenges that also impact their professional performance.
Constant concern about the future of the planet, for example, can make it difficult to concentrate on daily tasks, compromising the quality of deliveries. In addition, emotional overload tends to result in high levels of stress at work , favoring internal conflicts.
It is worth remembering that chronic stress caused by eco-anxiety can also worsen other mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, and lead to increased absenteeism and turnover in the organization.
How should companies deal with this scenario?
The situations presented above highlight how important it is for companies to pay attention to eco-anxiety and adopt strategies to about primally pure support their employees.
Check out some particularly useful coping actions below.
CREATE SPACE FOR DIALOGUE
Providing a safe environment where employees can share their concerns is the first step to reducing not only eco-anxiety, but phone number germany other mental disorders as well.
Often, feeling supported and realizing that we are not alone in our feelings can bring significant relief and even encourage us to seek specialized help.
EDUCATE ABOUT CLIMATE ANXIETY
It is common that, at first, the individual affected by ecoanxiety cannot understand what is happening to them or has difficulty finding the right tools to manage the emotional challenges that arise.
By offering lectures, workshops or training on the subject, the company helps employees recognize the signs of environmental anxiety and learn how to deal with it.
OFFER EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Providing psychological support within the organization, whether through therapists or mental health programs , is another valuable way to support employees dealing with this phenomenon.
When it comes to emotional suffering, having the support of a specialized professional, who looks at the unique characteristics of each person, is usually fundamental to the recovery process.
IMPLEMENT GOOD ESG PRACTICES
Adopting environmentally responsible practices can make employees feel safer and, at the same time, less powerless about the future.
By involving the team in actions such as recycling programs or responsible energy use, the company contributes to the health of the planet and provides a sense of purpose.
REVIEW FLEXIBILITY POLICIES
Especially on days of heavy rain or when there is a risk of natural disasters, it is important that employees have the option to work remotely or adjust their schedules.
Taking this more flexible approach to situations that increase climate anxiety is a way of demonstrating care and understanding.