The phenomenon of climate depression is being talked about more and more frequently, but what is this 21st century illness really about? Climate depression is being dealt with by many researchers who also work hard to define it. In the simplest sense, it is the impact of climate change on an individual's wellbeing. Many people experience anxiety about the future, a sense of loss, frustration or sadness due to the effects of the climate crisis.

Data collected by the World Health Organisation shows that one in five teenagers suffers from mental or behavioural problems and more than half of them first appear during adolescence. On the positive side, Generation Z is not afraid to speak out about their problems and ask for help. Visiting a psychiatrist or therapist is no longer a taboo topic and statements like "I don’t have mental strength to see you now" are no longer treated as cheap excuses.

A research results published by the Medical University of Gdansk shows that one in four teenagers suffers from depression and one in ten has suicidal thoughts regularly. Similar figures are provided by the police: 1573 people between the ages of 19 and 24 had attempted suicide in 2021 alone. As many as 1411 teenagers belonging to the 13-18 age group committed suicide in the same year.

Generation Z representatives are increasingly aware of the seriousness of the climate situation. Environmental protests are taking to the streets in many cities all over the world. The goal is common: to show that climate warming is real and action needs to be taken to fight it. Ideas to draw attention to the pressing issue vary from painting monuments, sticking yourself to roads or walls, to protesting in front of parliament buildings.

The multitude of actions, while positive, can be overwhelming for many people. Particularly when news of fires, droughts, hurricanes or more animal species going extinct comes out of all the media. Representatives of Generation Z are afraid of the future, hence, among other things, their lesser desire to start families and reproduce. "What will happen if water or other resources run out?" Zoomers wonder.

The climate depression has been mentioned many times by the Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk, among others. During a speech at Campus Polska 2023, the writer stated that: "a politician who shuns the topic of climate catastrophe is untrustworthy". The writer also admitted that she herself suffers from climate depression, which manifests itself, among other things, by waking up in the middle of the night. Tokarczuk then thinks of "the impending climate doom that is now murmuring in southern European countries or Hawaii".

Climate depression can discourage people from reading the news or browsing social media. It's hard to keep composure when you're watching a funny video one minute, and footage of fires in Australia the next. To protect your mind and take care of your health, it's helpful to know where to seek help. The first step is often to contact with a psychiatrist or therapist. What is important, seeing a psychiatrist does not require a referral.

If you seek help there exist several telephone advice centres for mental crises. At 116 123 you can find a nationwide telephone counselling service for adult people experiencing an emotional crisis. It operates Monday to Friday, from 2.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. Children and teenagers should call 116 111. In addition, there is a 24-hour free support service for people in mental health crisis on 800 70 2222.

Many cities also have Crisis Intervention Centres where psychologists and psychiatrists provide emergency assistance to people in need.