Hi fellow humans.

As so many of us consider the serious implications of the recent IPCC report , I’m sharing here a transcript of a video piece I did last year. This piece was a small part of a larger project organised by Chloe McCann and others for SS4C in lutruwita/Tasmania in September 2020, and edited by Luca Schild. The whole project is well worth a watch as a great example of young people taking the lead on climate communication.

My contribution can be found here:

Since sharing this video online again recently, I’ve been contacted by lots of people who have found it helpful at this time, when we are facing such an uncertain future. As I, like you, struggle to come to terms with the situation we collectively face, it has been personally very meaningful to know I have been able to provide some support and empowerment to others.

The ideas in this video are not my own and I do not wish to take credit for any of the concepts I discuss here. I have come to this by way of conversations with many inspiring people who work in this space and informed by the research and writings of experts in the field of climate change and mental health.

Below is a transcript of the video above:

My name is Anna Seth, I’m a GP and a mum. I am passionate about the need for urgent climate action and the need to look after mental health and wellbeing in the face of the challenges we face.  It can bring up a lot of strong feelings when we start to understand the reality of climate change. it’s very normal to feel worried, scared even. You might feel deeply sad, despairing, overwhelmed. Some of you might be feeling angry and frustrated. You might even feel like the situation is hopeless and nothing you or anyone else can do will change that. All of this is understandable, the situation is serious and urgent. A lot of wrong and terrible things have happened , and continue to happen, to lead us to this place.  It would actually be more unusual to hear this and not feel any of these painful emotions. I’m not here to tell you that what you are feeling is wrong. I’m not here to tell you not to worry, or not to feel angry. I’m here to say that I feel that way too, as do literally millions of others. You are never ever alone with this.

The challenge is how do we find the courage to do what’s right, in the face of all this. Not to just switch off, turn away and hope that somehow it will all work out for the best?  Or just decide it’s a lost cause and give up. And how to we keep going, when we meet resistance or what can seem like wilful ignorance, unchecked greed. Or  just plain lack of respect for humanity and for the planet? How do we hold onto hope,  when the future is far from certain?

It isn’t easy, but here you are. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I do have some  ideas you might find helpful.

firstly, build a network of support around you.  Connect to others who share your concerns and your values. Amplify and lift each other up in relationships which are mutually supportive. Talk to the people in your life about why acting on climate change is so important to you, and ask them to support you. If they can’t or won’t support you then try to find people who can. Remember that you can talk to your GP, school counsellor or any mental health professional about this too. 

Secondly get personal with nature. We have developed this weird idea the we are somehow separate from nature. Lots of aspects of our lives maintain this illusion though indigenous cultures around the world have never lost sight of our connection to the whole shared life of this planet. It’s a deep connection we can feel in our heart if we are willing to tune in to it.  take a moment today go outside, pause, breath in, breathe out,, feel the breeze on your skin and the ground under your feet. There is no separation. We are part of this great web of life we are striving to protect, in fact we are entirely dependent on it.  When we take action to look after earth, we also nurture ourselves and when we take the time to look after our own wellbeing we also care for earth. Care for self is care for planet and visa versa. Just as we now know we can’t take and take from the earth and expect it to still function, the same is true of us. As we work together to build a sustainable world around us, let’s also build that inside of us. Refuse to get used up and worn out like so many of earths resources. Take rest when you need it, switch off when you need a break. nothing in nature is on the go all the time.  Show the same compassion to yourself that you do for the world, be deeply grateful to earth for all it provides for you, and likewise, acknowledge every action you take, no matter how small, that goes towards making the world a better, kinder place.

Thirdly, it helps to see the big picture. Humans have overcome incredible adversity and difficulties in the past through collective effort and determination, and we will get through our current challenges too. Millions of people around the world have made it their life’s work to create a better future. People everywhere are doing their part, big or small and it all adds up. You don’t have to save the world single handed. You just do what you can with what you have today. But do not underestimate your power. You might not see it straightaway. It might be some small thing, a conversation or a simple action, but it starts a cascade of change that flows through others. 

The future is not yet written, and we cannot know for sure what will happen. We can listen to the message our uncomfortable feelings about the state of the world  have for us and choose not to push them away, but accept them , learn skills and access the support we need to respond in ways that matter. True courage is doing what you know to be right, even of you cannot be certain of the outcome. Because standing by is unacceptable.  It is a bold and radical thing to do, but we can do it together. Let’s  start by building kindness and compassion for ourselves and extend that vision to include the whole planet.