Drawing on interviews with climate activists, this article explores the top five negative and positive health impacts of climate activism.
Introduction
[Climate activism] did drag me out of a very bad depression. But then it has had me in a relatively constant state of burnout ever since. (Participant A033)
Activists are storytellers, familiar with crafting collective narratives of empowerment, connection and hope. These are the values we often emphasise when telling our shared stories, helping to build strong teams with common purpose. However, activism also regularly brings us face to face with distressing and overwhelming crises. It can also be a really tough thing to do, day after day, year after year. There can be a fine line between determination and burnout, connection and despair. For some, dwelling on these negative responses might seem to threaten their goal of building a stronger, bigger movement. However, integrating these experiences into our shared narratives can help us to create a culture of collective care and provide material support to those who need it.
In 2023 a group of researchers began a project to look at the connections between climate activism and health to help build our understanding about supporting activists’ health needs. This project was a collaboration between The Commons Social Change Library, The University of Queensland, The University of New South Wales and The Sunrise Project. The project began with reviewing what the research already tells us about climate activism and health, which are described in the article ‘Health and Climate Activism’. Following this, the team then interviewed 29 climate activists to learn more about their physical and mental health experiences and how these may have affected their participation in activism. The activists all had varied experiences, came from different parts of the movement and were spread across Australia, but each had important insights into the impacts of climate activism on health. They also shared a number of common experiences. Drawing on these participant interviews, this article explores the top five negative and positive health impacts of climate activism articulated by participants.
Negative effects of climate activism on health
1. Sleep Disruption
Insomnia is another sign of mental health problems; sleep deprivation can trigger so many things. But again, on the frontline, most people are sleep deprived – there’s stuff going on all day, every day, night and day. One time it took me more than six months of burnout before I actually got to sleep again, like more than a few hours at a time. And it took me even longer to realise that the level of sleep deprivation literally reflected my level of mental health or ill health. (Participant A008)
Sleep disruption emerged as a significant concern among climate activists, with 13 participants (45%) sharing experiences of insomnia and sleep disruption. This problem was also often connected to other mental health struggles. For example, one activist talked about not being able to calm their mind at night, with a feeling that their mind was constantly racing. This then impacted their relationships, as they felt they were unable to feel fully present with their loved ones. Activists also noted that sleep disruption impacts may be exacerbated when taking on particular activist roles or responsibilities. For example, one participant talked about the expectations of nonstop connectivity for those who worked in digital spaces. They said their workplace culture made them feel like they needed to be “plugged in constantly”.
Yes, my insomnia got a lot worse… I guess I felt like I was under a lot of pressure. And I felt like I needed to be on because I was working in digital, there was an expectation that I was kind of plugged in constantly and ahead of everyone else to react to things. So, I would work all the time, basically. But so did the [person in the senior role]. And that was just kind of the expectation. (Participant A039)
This participant shared that while at this workplace, other employees who had strong boundaries were “managed out”.
In fact, while I was there, I was asked to help manage out someone who had strong workplace boundaries. And so, they were considered to not be a good worker, because they left on time and took their full lunch break and didn’t check in before they left. And yes, so I was, I would say that I had a breakdown there. (Participant A039)
The pressure to maintain productivity amid relentless activism demands disrupted the delicate balance of rest and work for some activists. Heightened pressure, long hours and burnout can all contribute to a lack of sleep for these activists. Indeed, research demonstrates how sleep disruption can have a cascade of downstream mental and physical health impacts over the medium to long term, including comorbidities with cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, inflammatory conditions, increased pain, metabolic conditions among others. As a result, several of the climate activists interviewed juggled different medications to help manage their sleep disruption experiences.
2. Reduced motivation, care and/or interest
I think the biggest thing for me is …. a lack of enthusiasm and energy for my work. I mean I have one of the best jobs in the world, I get to work on one of the biggest problems on the planet and often I just will wake up and just not want to go to work. (Participant A047)
Climate activism is an extremely demanding activity, and many activists noted how it can deplete their feelings of motivation and care over time. Over one third (38%) of interviewees noticed reduced interest or care, both in their work and personal lives. A lack of interest or motivation can also be a core sign of burnout or depression. As the activist quoted above articulates, despite knowing that their work in climate action was important and meaningful, they struggled to maintain their enthusiasm. For this activist, this lack of enthusiasm was described as a symptom of their wider struggles with burnout.
Potentially, you do have a limited amount of motivation …people have a limited amount of motivation and have ‘credits’ each morning, and [if] you use them on certain things, [then] you don’t have them for other things. (Participant A098)
Some activists noted a dwindling of enthusiasm for other activities they had previously enjoyed doing in their lives. For example, one participant said their motivation declined over time, and that now they no longer felt motivated to take part in activities that they would have enjoyed in the past. For another participant, this lack of motivation crept into their personal life, and began to impact their ability to support and care for their family. These personal experiences emphasise the seriousness of reduced motivation and enthusiasm among climate activists.
[I felt] just complete and utter exhaustion, and no ability to take care of my kids and enjoy my life. And yeah, I have sort of conflated burnout with depression at times… it can look kind of similar. I lose my appetite. The sleep goes a bit off. And yeah, I just had no spark. I totally lost my spark. (Participant A033)
3. Gut Health/Weight Problems
I understand how they’re [gut issues] all linked to the mental side of things as well and stress over the years can slowly change your gut flora. (Participant A040)
Almost one third (31%) of activists believed that there was an intricate connection between stress, mental health, and their physical well-being, which for them, manifested in gut, food, or weight problems. These activists found that stress caused by participating in climate activism led to altered gut flora, changed eating behaviours and fluctuations in weight. They also suggested that these issues exacerbated their existing health conditions, highlighting their experiences of a connection between their gut health and their wider physical and mental health. For other participants, the severity of experiences contributed to their decision to take a step away from activism.
They say that gut health is really connected to stress as well. And I knew that – for me was a big thing. So that was kind of part of the reason why I had to step away a bit from the climate activism, [to] focus more on my own health. (Participant A092)
This activist’s experience of needing to step away from activism to prioritise their personal health demonstrates the toll chronic stress can take on physical health. For some activists, where the effects became too great, time out of their work and activism was necessary. Another participant highlighted the mismatch between winning a campaign while their health declined:
I have lost weight, again, I’m tired. My asthma – a sure sign of stress for me – has kicked in badly. But. We. Won. Yes, we won: but my relationship suffered (again), I didn’t have time to spend with friends and family. I was not ‘there’ for people. Insomnia and anxiety kicked in… my partner cooked for me and encouraged me to stop at times. (Participant A088)
The ongoing nature of activists seeking to address the climate crisis can lead to this kind of dynamic, where a campaign win doesn’t necessarily lead to moments of rest or recovery. Instead, activists are constantly moving on to the next campaign or project – and for some, as these research findings demonstrate, this can have lasting health impacts.
4. Anxiety
It’s a lot of anxiety. I’ve actually had in the past anxiety, particularly after I had the kids [when] I was seeing a psychologist. And I guess I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder at that time. I’ve not seen anyone or had any official diagnosis for anything in the last three years since I’ve been officially a climate activist, but I know that I can see those kinds of symptoms coming up. (Participant A001)
Anxiety emerged throughout the interviews as a widespread companion to climate activism, with 28% of participants experiencing anxiety in connection with their climate activism. Furthermore, for some activists, a constant exposure to media coverage of the climate crisis intensified their existing anxiety disorders. They noted how this then impaired their quality of life and had negative impacts on their social relationships.
The eco-anxiety, that constant, relentless bad news about the environment, does add to the stress levels, and added to mine. (Participant A040)
Anxiety from past experiences or contexts could also impact their climate activism. For example, one participant shared that an experience of bullying within the climate movement had led to social anxiety and agoraphobia, because they were afraid of running into the person who was bullying them at community events. This participant’s experiences demonstrate how important it is to provide safe working environments for activists. Having structures in place to deal with conflict intentionally can also help to stop these experiences from escalating.
I developed social anxiety and like some mild agoraphobia and I was afraid of seeing this person at community events. (Participant A039)
5. Depression
I think depression is a really big thing in the movement. And in every activist. (Participant A008)
For 28% of the climate activists interviewed in this project, depression emerged as a consequence of their engagement with environmental activism, whether stemming from climate anxiety, overwork, or exacerbation of pre-existing mental health conditions. One participant talked about their experiences on the front lines of a major flood crisis, which led to depression and a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. For another participant, their climate anxiety contributed to their depression diagnosis. Activists also spoke about how a constant engagement with climate change narratives in the media was necessary for their organising work but had significant mental health impacts.
[Climate-anxiety] led to a formal diagnosis of depression when I was about 24, or 25. [This was] after having some time to reflect on how I was just [in a] very low mood for long periods of time. At first I blamed it entirely on being tired, but then I realized that there were more effects from it. That was, I think, a perpetual climate anxiety [from] being much more engaged with media around [climate change]. Because that was a part of the organising as well – you’re a part of communications and things like that, reading this stuff all the time. (Participant A009)
Positive effects of climate activism on health
While interviewees reported significant negative health impacts, they also emphasised that climate activism had many positive effects. One participant described it as a “double-edged sword”, saying that climate activism had provided them with some of the best things they had experienced in their life. The most frequently mentioned positive impacts were: enhanced connection or relationships, more motivation and energy, improved overall mental health, feeling more empowered, and feeling happier. The following sections discuss each of these effects in more detail.
1. Enhanced Connection/Relationships
I think in many ways, the work that I do is really connecting. That’s something that I’ve struggled with, much of my life is feeling connected with other humans… The relationships that I formed have been really sustaining and nourishing. So in those terms, it’s been immensely beneficial for my mental health. I don’t think I would have developed into a queer identity or a gender diverse identity without that network of relationships that have formed through this space. (Participant A026)
As the quote above demonstrates, some activists in the study had found that climate activism had been transformative in fostering meaningful connections and nurturing supportive relationships in their lives. More than half (53%) of activists interviewed in this study reported that their activism enhanced their connections with other people and helped them build stronger relationships. For some interviewees, their participation in activism helped them cultivate healthy relationships. For example, one participant talked about how their experiences in climate activism helped to teach them about social connection.
So I would say that the climate activism I was involved with at university really contributed to me learning how to form healthier relationships because everybody was very interested in healthy communication and inclusion and saying what you mean. It was a very formative experience for me in [building] healthy social connection. It definitely broadened my social world and helped [me] with a lot of social anxiety I’d experienced before. (Participant A039)
2. More Motivation/Energy
Interestingly, while some activists reported decreased energy and motivation as a result of their activism, 41% found that they had greater energy and motivation. For these activists, they reported that taking part in climate activism made them feel empowered, as well as boosted their energy and motivation levels. One participant recalled how activism gave them a sense of purpose, which then helped lift them out of periods of depression. Participants said that when they took action that matched their personal values they felt a sense of confidence and agency, a feeling that they were capable of making change happen. This then made them feel a sense of momentum, and encouraged them to continue doing not only climate activism but also to do other meaningful actions in their lives.
I had depression and anxiety and then started activism… And I thought, this is what I want to be doing. Then I had a lot more energy, and it really did drag me out of the depression: having that direction in life and making new connections with people. (Participant A033)
3. Improved Overall Mental Health
I think I am generally happier doing work that’s aligned with my values… I know overall that I have felt much more a sense of purpose, engagement, community, etc. (Participant A009)
A number of participants (29%) mentioned general feelings of improved mental health occurring because of their climate activism efforts, particularly due to the sense of purpose it gave them in taking action on an issue of such pivotal importance. This general improvement crossed many different areas of mental health. One activist noted that they felt their general levels of anxiety had improved as a result of participating in activism. Another noted that they felt their activism helped them regulate their own emotions more effectively. Another participant said that they felt that being part of the climate movement had a healing effect. It wasn’t only participation in activism that generated these positive mental health outcomes. One activist specifically highlight the power of a campaign win:
the times that I felt most mentally healthy is when I feel like I’m working with people who are like, really just fucking effective and fierce and strategic and like, we’re winning. And that does a lot [for] my mental health. (Participant A094)
4. Feeling More Empowered
In the last couple years the biggest and most sustained impact that activism has had on my health is a really renewed sense of optimism. And that’s probably coincided with that empowerment and agency thing, where I feel more empowered to have conversations. (Participant A086)
18% of interviewees said that they felt a greater sense of empowerment as a result of their climate activism. Some of these activists connected this empowerment to specific skills they learned through their activism, such as having conversations about climate change with others. Another participant mentioned that the support they received from other activists empowered them to continue their activism. They also linked this empowerment to a sense of hope for the future.
having the support I need to thrive with medication and good support systems and therapy plus, feeling empowered [has motivated my activism]. …it has made my outlook on climate change and crisis and activism regarding that a lot more hopeful. And I feel inspired rather than despair, which [I think] is not a common experience. (Participant A086)
5. Feeling Happier
When I understood the problems that were happening in the world, and felt really hopeless about it, I didn’t know anyone else that cared about the same things. It felt actually quite depressing and isolating. So being able to be a part of things where people were like minded … it really energised me, made me happier, brought me joy. And I felt like I was really making a difference in whatever way I was. (Participant A084)
18% of activists in the study said that their climate activism provided them with feelings of joy and fulfilment. These feelings were most commonly linked to a sense of purpose and solidarity. One participant said that being active and engaged in work that was trying to improve the world made them happy. Another highlighted how acting on an issue of profound importance to them – climate change – brought great joy and meaning to their life.
Conclusion
The impacts of climate activism on health are multifaceted, encompassing both positive and negative outcomes. While activists in this study grappled with sleep disruption, reduced motivation, and mental health challenges as effects of their climate activism, they also experienced enhanced connection, renewed motivation, and greater empowerment. The challenge activists face is ensuring that the positive effects of activism are available to all, now and in the future. Indeed, one interview participant highlighted the collective responsibility activists have to care for each other in a movement:
It’s quite important to acknowledge that some of the best things in my life have come through the movement. And my best friends are people that I’ve shared times on the frontline with. I think for people who feel damaged or harmed by the movement, I feel really sad about that, because it just means that we’ve failed to support our comrades. (Participant A008)
While it’s important that individuals don’t take on the responsibilities of professional health services, by acknowledging and addressing these complex dynamics, activists can cultivate resilient communities grounded in collective care.
Explore further
- Health and Climate Activism
- 10 Tips for how the Climate Movement can Improve Experiences for Activists with Diverse Health Needs
- Climate Activism Coping Strategies
- Resources to Cope with Climate Anxiety and Grief
- We Need a Climate Movement that Addresses the Trauma of Fighting for a Burning Planet
- There’s No Place for Burnout in a Burning World
