Gen Z Mental Health: Climate Stories

Positives

• This video shows first-person narratives along with haunting images of climate disasters to drive home the concept that climate change is affecting peoples' lives now.
• Environmental injustice is discussed as communities often being the most impacted by the effects of climate change are usually the least responsible for the causes.
• The video ends with positive ways individuals are making change through climate activism and shows images of groups organizing through protests and in support of climate action.

Additional Prerequisites

• Learners should be familiar with the types of perilous situations resulting from climate change such as increased flooding, wildfires, and climate migration.
• Learners should be emotionally prepared to think about serious topics related to natural disasters and mental health.

Differentiation

• Before watching the video ask students to discuss or journal about their current feelings related to climate change.
• After watching the video ask students if their thoughts or feelings have changed and if they would prefer to discuss their impressions as a class or in pairs.
• As an extension, have students write an essay about whether they think individual, community, federal, or international actions will be what is necessary to fix the climate crisis.
• This workbook on Taking Action and Self-Care is an excellent follow-up to this video. 
• Consider bringing in a mental health professional to join the class to discuss how to cope with feelings of anxiety and depression that can be brought on by climate change.