Our natural environment is changing rapidly—and young people feel it deeply. Growing awareness of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation is taking a toll on the mental wellbeing of adolescents and young adults. In this study, we explored how these concerns manifest as environmental distress and solastalgia among Dutch young adults aged 16 to 35.

Using an adapted version of the Environmental Distress Scale (EDS), we surveyed a representative sample of 1006 participants across the Netherlands. While most previous research on solastalgia has focused on older populations in areas directly affected by resource extraction or environmental disasters, our study offers a first look into how young people in a Western, urban context are mentally affected by environmental change. We also investigated whether factors such as place attachment, perceived control, trust, and personality traits (BFI-10) play a role in how intensely this distress is experienced.

Published in EcoHealth, this study highlights the urgent need for a deeper understanding of how environmental degradation impacts mental health. It calls for closer collaboration between researchers, mental health professionals, and environmental advocates to develop strategies that enhance mental resilience, build environmental awareness, and empower young people to engage meaningfully with the future of our planet.

The Greens/EFA Members of the European Parliament are urging European ministers not to accept the EU-Mercosur Trade Deal. You can support them by sending an email to the European ministers, telling them to reject the deal and protect local farmers and the environment: https://act.greens-efa.eu/mercosur

Across the Circumpolar North, Indigenous communities like the Sámi are facing growing challenges due to rapid environmental changes. These changes—intertwined with social, political, and historical pressures—have a deep impact on mental wellbeing. Yet, within these communities lie powerful sources of resilience and knowledge that are essential for adapting to a changing world.

In this systematic literature review, we explored how environmental shifts affect the mental health of Circumpolar Indigenous peoples, with a specific focus on Sámi experiences and perspectives. How do they experience environmental change? How do they connect this to mental wellbeing? And what cultural values, practices, and relationships support their resilience?

By centering Indigenous voices, this research highlights the importance of locally grounded knowledge in shaping mental health responses to ecological disruption. Understanding and integrating these perspectives is not only a matter of justice—it also enriches and strengthens public health strategies in the context of the climate crisis.

This work underscores the urgent need for more qualitative, community-based research that builds on the strengths of Indigenous worldviews and fosters collaboration in the face of global environmental change.

I'm happy to announce the publication of ‘Voices from the North: Exploring Sámi People’s Perspectives on Environmental Change and Mental Well-Being’ in Challenges, Volume 15, Issue 30.

‘Zet gezondheid voorop bij strijd tegen klimaatverandering’
Nederlandse artsen laten zich horen op klimaatconferentie.
Gezondheid laten meetellen als belangrijk argument om klimaat­verandering tegen te gaan. Met dat doel roerden Nederlandse artsen zich op de jaarlijkse klimaatconferentie van de Verenigde Naties.

In this video, I explain why reading books and sharing knowledge can contribute to constructive action and empowerment in a rapidly changing world in which we face many interconnected crises. Together with Pauline de Heer and other members of Planetary Health Hub NL, we created a Planetary Health booklist.  Look here >