Support networks expand to address youth anxiety in the polycrisis era
Organisations are broadening their focus beyond climate change to help young people manage the cumulative stress of economic instability, conflict and political shifts, while prioritising rigorous evaluation of their methods.
Organisations such as Force of Nature and the Good Grief Network are developing support programmes to assist children and young adults in managing anxiety related to the "polycrisis." The term describes the cumulative impact of climate change, conflict, economic instability, and political shifts on mental health. While global surveys indicate high levels of distress among youth, the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of these interventions remains limited. Both groups are now prioritising rigorous evaluation and data collection to determine which methods successfully improve mental well-being and emotional regulation.
Force of Nature, a UK-based organisation, has shifted its focus from strictly climate-related issues to a broader approach addressing cost of living, conflict, and political anxiety. The group, which started in 2019, now encourages participants to discuss various sources of existential despair. This shift aims to avoid creating an echo chamber and acknowledges that young people in different regions may be dealing with acute survival crises rather than just philosophical concerns. The organisation currently has about 2,000 students from more than 50 countries in its online community.
The Good Grief Network, a Michigan-based nonprofit, has launched a youth-specific programme called GGN-Z. This initiative adapts the network’s adult 10-step model into a five-step, experiential framework for teens. The programme, which began testing in 2022, uses interactive activities such as a "bad news graffiti wall" and storytelling exercises to help participants process their feelings. The adult version of the programme has been run more than 85 times with around 2,500 total participants, and the network is now beginning online training for club leaders and teachers globally.
Research indicates that a significant portion of young people are experiencing mental health challenges attributed to these cumulative global stresses. A 2025 study by Polish researchers defined "polycrisis syndrome," finding that over 60% of young adults reported mental health issues linked to the stress of world affairs. This aligns with a 2021 Lancet Planetary Health study, which found that approximately 60% of young people were very or extremely worried about climate change, with 56% agreeing that "humanity is doomed."
Despite the prevalence of these programmes, the scientific evidence for their effectiveness is nascent. Psychologist Liza Jachens, who coauthored a 2021 scoping review, noted that only two of 34 reviewed eco-anxiety programmes had undergone formal evaluation. To address this gap, Force of Nature has joined a 25-organisation project called Youth Mental Wellbeing. Over five years, the project will study the collective impact of these interventions to identify proven methods for supporting young people’s mental health journeys.
Participants and facilitators emphasise the importance of validation and connection. Pim Sullivan-Tailyour, a participant and current leader of Force of Nature's "climate cafes," highlights the intersection of environmental and political deterioration as a source of anxiety. She notes that the shift to the far right globally is deeply terrifying, yet she draws hope from historical examples of human resilience and collective action, such as the recovery of the ozone layer.
