Canadian Association of
Nurses for the Environment

Association canadienne des infirmières
et infirmiers pour l'environnement

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Mental Health Questionnaire

eco-anxiety, eco-grief, solastalgia, salutogenic effects of nature

Disclaimer:

The Periphat tool is meant to offer tips. It is not for emergencies. For an emergency, please call 911. For non-emergency related health advice, call 811.

These may be challenging questions and topics for you to think about. If you are currently struggling with your mental health, please contact your primary care or mental health care provider, local medical or community health centre or call 811 for support. First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Hotline at 1-855-242-3310 is also available. If you are feeling suicidal, please contact 911 or go to your local hospital emergency room. You can also call the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 988, for help anywhere in Canada.

Introduction

With climate change, diseases that move from animals to people are rising. Questions in this part of the PeriPHAT tool are here to help you and your family learn more about information and resources on diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks.

General questions (for each table):

The designers of this tool ask the following questions to ensure that this tool is helpful to clients and families from diverse backgrounds, identities and life circumstances.

urban area suburban area rural/remote area
Yes No
Low-income and housing insecure Low income and housing secure Middle income High income You do not have an option that applies to me. I identify as (open-ended)
Man Woman LGBTQ+ Two-Spirit Intersex You do not have an option that applies to me. I identify as (open-ended)
Indigenous Newcomers Refugees seeking asylum Black Latin-X Asian Person of Colour White You do not have an option that applies to me. I identify as (open-ended)

6. Pregnant people and new parents can develop symptoms of low moodPregnant people and new parents can develop depression and anxiety due to several factors, including fear of the unknown as a new parent, feeling they may not be a good enough parent and worry about what life will be like for their children in a world with climate change. It is important to connect with a healthcare provider if you are having these types of emotions. and anxietyFeeling fearful, tense, heart racing, and shortness of breath. due to several factors. These include a fear of the unknown as a new parent, feeling they may not be a good enough parent and worry about what life will be like for their child in a world with climate change.
If you are pregnant or a new parent, have you or did you experience symptoms of low mood and or anxiety?

Pregnant people and new parents can develop depressionPregnant people and new parents can develop depression and anxiety due to several factors, including fear of the unknown as a new parent, feeling they may not be a good enough parent and worry about what life will be like for their children in a world with climate change. It is important to connect with a healthcare provider if you are having these types of emotions. and anxietyFeeling fearful, tense, heart racing, and shortness of breath. due to several factors, including fear of the unknown as a new parent, feeling they may not be a good enough parent and worry about what life will be like for their children in a world with climate change. It is important to connect with a healthcare provider if you are having these types of emotions.

Climate change can impact the emotional health of pregnant persons and new parents, as well as babies and young children.

This tool kit has separate questions for parents or guardians with children.

7. Do you have strategiesA plan for something to do:
  • Speaking to others about how you’re feeling (e.g., family, friends or a therapist)
  • Scheduling and engaging in activities that improve your mental health (e.g., spending time outdoors)
  • Volunteering with an environmental activist organization
 to help cope with your feelings towards climate change?

Pregnant people and new parents can develop depressionPregnant people and new parents can develop depression and anxiety due to several factors, including fear of the unknown as a new parent, feeling they may not be a good enough parent and worry about what life will be like for their children in a world with climate change. It is important to connect with a healthcare provider if you are having these types of emotions. and anxiety due to several factors, including fear of the unknown as a new parent, feeling they may not be a good enough parent and worry about what life will be like for their children in a world with climate change. It is important to connect with a healthcare provider if you are having these types of emotions.

Talk to your healthcare provider, healthcare team or walk-in medical clinic or urgent care centre for more information.

Think of ways you can help yourself have more positive mental health.

Please continue to the following section.

8. Has your baby or young child(s)’s mental health been impacted by climate changeClimate change weather event The weather in many regions will change over time and include more extreme weather. For example:
  • More hurricanes, flooding, ice storms, and rainfall
  • Droughts
  • Wildfire and wildfire smoke events
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Harder to get healthy food and clean water
  • Thawing permafrost or loss of sea ice
  • Sea-level rise
?

Babies and young children are affected by climate change just as youth and adults are. It is important to know how they are feeling, how to support them and who to call for help.

9. If you are concerned about your child(ren)’s feelingsYou are often the best person to know how your child is feeling. If you notice something different about your child’s behaviour, consider why it has changed. and have not yet reached out for support, do you know who you should call?

Even young children can sense if grown-ups around them are feeling impacted by something, including climate change.

* If you feel unsure, sad, anxious or other unsettling feelings after going through this questionnaire, please contact your healthcare team and/or family and community support to talk about how you are feeling and how you can find hope. Please also see the resources below.

If you are feeling suicidal, please contact 911 or go to your local hospital emergency room. If you have questions about mental health resources, please contact your local Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH) or 811.You can also call the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 988, for help anywhere in Canada.

How we can support ourselves and others in feeling well

Feeling well and having help from people in the four areas below can help when facing climate change:

  • You as a person
  • Your family
  • Your community
  • Our society

Climate change is impacting you or your family’s mental health

The effects of climate change are impacting humans, animals and our environment. Changes in our environment can sometimes make us feel a range of emotions. We can feel sad, unsure, anxious and angry. I Most of what is happening to our environment is beyond our control. It has taken centuries of using resources such as coal and oil without any thought to human, animal or planetary health resulting in today’s extreme weather events. Finding hope in our future through working together can help us feel better about our surroundings and the many changes we see. It is important to reach out to your family, friends, and community support if you or your children feel emotionally impacted by climate change. Your healthcare and community support teams can help you further access services to limit how climate change affects you and your family.

Below are some tools to support you and your family:

How climate change is impacting our mental health and finding hope in our communities

Changes in our environment can sometimes make us feel a range of emotions, for example, sad, unsure, anxious, and angry. Finding hope in our future through working together can help us feel better about our surroundings and the many changes we are seeing.

Climate change and mental health FAQ from:

Here are some ways to manage these feelings:

  • Get support from a counsellor and/or talk to your healthcare provider, healthcare team, or walk-in medical clinic or urgent care centre for more information.
  • Join groups involved with climate change awareness to help you find hope in our future.
  • Connect with others to support your mental health well-being; here are some strategies for building community from the David Suzuki Foundation.
  • Learn how to manage in this difficult time through self-management skills. Check in with your support people about ways that might work for you.

About finding hope

Government and community agency support during and after climate change emergency events

Climate change events, like wildfires and flooding, can lead to individuals and families needing to relocate for a certain period or permanently. The provincial governments, Government of Canada and community and national support organizations are here to support you. This support can lessen the impact these events may have on your mental health. Find national and regional resources below. Talk to your local community services and healthcare teams for more information on how they can support you.

National support resources

How pregnancy and new parenthood can be impacted by climate change

When pregnant, situations caused by climate change can put more stress on your body. For example,wildfire smoke and dirty water caused by flood or drought conditions can make you more vulnerable. Check in with yourself to see how you are feeling and when you might need help.

If you feel you need help, please talk to your healthcare team, health care provider or walk-in clinic and your support people.

Additional resources in your region

British Columbia

In BC if you are in crisis, you can call 310-6789 or go to the closest emergency department, or call 911.

Alberta

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Ontario

Quebec

New Brunswick

Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island

Newfoundland & Labrador

Northwest Territories/Yukon/Nunavut

Depression and anxiety in pregnancy and new parenthood

Pregnancy and being a new parent can be a difficult time for a person, and it is important to know that your healthcare provider, healthcare team, walk-in medical clinic, or urgent care centre and other supports are here to help you. During this important time, some people develop perinatal depression or perinatal anxiety. A pregnant person or new parent’s feelings about climate change can be impacted during this period. For example, heat waves can worsen a person’s mental health. Depression and anxiety can impact the following in your life as a pregnant person or a new parent:

  • Negative views as a parent
  • Difficulty knowing when the baby is asking for something they need
  • Can put the person at risk of having depression and or anxiety in the future

Here are some things that may help you to support yourself and your baby/young child:

  • Connect with friends, family and community members; sharing your feelings can help. It can lower your stress and anxiety, including your feelings about climate change.
  • Get enough sleep and eat healthy foods.
  • Do activities like listening to music, spending time outside and drawing.
  • Limit the time you spend listening to the news or taking breaks from it.
  • Connect with other people interested in addressing climate change to give you a sense of hope.

If you do not feel comfortable talking to your healthcare provider, healthcare team, walk-in medical clinic, urgent care centre, or other support at this time, here are some telephone-based helplines you can call:

Please contact your healthcare provider, healthcare team or walk-in medical clinic for more information and the local public health unit as soon as you can.

Region/province specific:

Strategies to support your mental health

For help, contact your healthcare provider, healthcare team, walk-in medical clinic, or urgent care centre, as well as family and friend support.

Strategies and resources:

  • Do something healthy that you enjoy doing
  • Practice observing and naming the emotions you are experiencing to better understand how and why you might be responding in this way
  • Spend time in nature
  • Reduce your time on social media

Check out:

Young children’s mental health from climate change

Parents and guardians are the most important people in a baby and young child’s life. Talk to your public health team or community health centre to learn how you can support your baby and/or young child’s emotional well-being.

Remember, nobody is perfect at handling the ins and outs of our everyday life. The national Nobody’s Perfect Parenting program can support you in parenting during this challenging time. The Circle of Security International website also provides parents with information on how to support young children. The Circle of Security parenting learning series is available through some community organizations and health programs across Canada.

You are often the best person to know how your child is feeling. If you notice something is different about your baby or child’s behaviour, be curious about it. Look for changes in how they are behaving. Keep track of changes for a short period and write them down. This is helpful when you reach out to a healthcare team or healthcare provider.

If you have any concerns for your baby or young child, please call your healthcare provider, healthcare team, walk-in medical clinic, urgent care centre, or public health unit for more information.

Additional resources:

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