MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), today, as part of the state’s celebration of Earth Week, shared new resources to help Wisconsinites handle the impacts of the climate crisis on their mental health and well-being. The new DHS climate and mental health webpage provides resources for specific groups that are most impacted by climate change, including Tribal communities, agricultural workers, young people, healthcare providers, mental healthcare professionals, parents and caregivers, educators, and more. Related pages offer tips to help families prepare for major weather events and how to deal with the aftermath.  

“The climate crisis is here, and it is affecting Wisconsinites’ way of life, from business owners and farmers facing economic challenges caused by a changing climate to our kids who are feeling worried about the future of our planet to homeowners and communities recovering from flooding and severe storms, these impacts weigh heavily on all of us,” said Gov. Evers. “This Earth Week, we encourage folks, families, and communities to prepare for and respond to our changing environment with mental health and well-being in mind. That includes not only emergency preparedness and community engagement but also support services to help people cope with the emotional toll that severe weather can take.”   

Climate change has been linked to floods, severe storms, heat waves, droughts, wildfire smoke, and infectious disease outbreaks. These extreme weather events can cause high levels of anxiety and distress and may: 

  • Trigger post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, helplessness, and suicidal behavior; 
  • Worsen generalized anxiety in those already vulnerable; and  
  • Lead to eco-anxiety, a distress response to awareness of climate change impacts.  

“Severe weather events not only impact our physical health, but they can also have long-term mental health effects,” said Paula Tran, state health officer and Division of Public Health administrator. “Survivors of disasters are often forced from their homes, lose their livelihoods and possessions, and need to grieve those losses along with lost community connections. In addition to our continued work to improve policies and broader systems, it’s critical that we offer resources to help Wisconsinites become climate resilient.”   

As severe weather events become more common due to a changing climate, mental health clinicians are seeing an increase in patients reporting symptoms specifically related to climate concerns. According to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, 59 percent of Wisconsinites are worried about global warming, 54 percent believe it is already harming people in the U.S., and 70 percent believe global warming will harm future generations.  

Young people in particular are already feeling the impacts of climate change, with a study of more than 10,000 youth finding that climate change and natural disasters have had a devastating impact on their mental health, with 59 percent saying they were very or extremely worried, 75 percent calling the future “frightening,” and more than 45 percent saying their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning. Climate anxiety includes many of the same symptoms of generalized anxiety, including heart racing and shortness of breath. It also can change the way people act, limiting their ability to do daily tasks and impacting relationships.   

Learning about climate change and its health impacts is the first step toward becoming climate resilient, being able to anticipate, react, adjust, and recover from climate-related stressors. Simple actions such as staying informed, preparing for emergencies, and connecting with community support can help reduce mental health risks.  

Wisconsinites can also transform their concerns into positive actions. For example, volunteering with a community organization to restore an ecosystem or at a community farm can do good and reduce loneliness and social isolation. Engaging in collective action may empower people to feel more in control of their future, decreasing feelings of helplessness and increasing feelings of hope. Read about more ways Wisconsinites can take action around their own homes and communities to reduce waste, recycle, conserve water, and take small steps that can have a big impact in this previous press release on Gov. Evers’ website.

People feeling overwhelmed by recent weather events can reach out to the Disaster Distress Helpline 24/7 by calling 800-985-5990. People experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health and/or substance use crisis can call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org to get free and confidential support. Find more information on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline page. Parents can learn more about helping kids handle their worries about our changing climate on the Child Mind Institute Kids and Climate Anxiety page.

An online version of this release is available here.