Climate Change makes us feel rubbish- so what do we do about it? CRF

Climate change makes us feel rubbish- so what do we do about it?

Community Resilience Forum

24th May 2025, Old School Hall, The Mansion

(Follow directions to Totnes Library, Old School Hall is in the same building)

Being aware of the impact of climate change and biodiversity loss can take its toll on our wellbeing. Climate anxiety and other climate emotions have become more common amongst young people and those engaged in activism on all levels. So how can we stay well informed and active but also take care of ourselves whilst confronted with an avalanche of negative news? Our speakers will break down the most common emotional impacts and what research and practice tell us to watch out for.

Our Speakers:

Izzy Barrett - Izzy is a local young person with a keen interest in environmental issues and local politics, she has recently written about the feelings she experiences in relation to young people’s role and responsibility for climate solutions here.

Viktoria Erlacher-Downing - Viktoria is an activist researcher and recently completed her PhD on how climate change affects the mental health of young people in Blackpool. She has been involved in activism on varying levels and combined it with her mission to make research a more accessible space, doing research together with communities rather than about them. She will draw on her key research findings and the calls to action that were co-created with her youth co-researchers.

Rachel Musson - Rachel is an educator, facilitator and international speaker dedicated to fostering a culture of Triple WellBeing in education. Bringing over two decades of experience in the classroom alongside experience living and working in the global south, she champions the belief that by changing the culture of learning, we can enable a more compassionate, connected and caring world.

Rachel and the ThoughtBox team work alongside educators right across the learning landscape to support Triple WellBeing in action by focusing on the practices of self-care, people-care and earth-care. Their Triple WellBeing programmes are now being used by over 5000+ educators across 74 countries to help strengthen and nurture wellbeing for ourselves, each other and the planet.

Rachel will share some of her practices with us, focused on the embodied nature of climate emotions.

Forum Structure:

Arrival from 12:45 for a promt start at 1pm.

1:00-2:00 pm Speakers

2:00-2:10 pm break

2:10-2:30 pm Project Representatives

2:30-2:50 pm Collective activity

2:50-3:00 Q&A and closing summary

Light refreshments provided

Who is this for?

Anyone with an interest in the topic is welcome to attend, no prior knowledge is required. It is a chance to learn about the topic and hear from speakers and local organisations focused on changing our perception of climate change to improve mental health. It is an opportunity to network with locals and ask any questions you might have to our speakers and project representatives.

About the Community Resilience Forum:

The Community Resilience Forum is a 3-part interactive space (over April, May and June 2025) where we welcome and encourage discussion, disagreement and debate about resilience research and practice. Topics will include Alternative Economics, Climate Change and Mental health, and the third topic is being co-created with local young people. Participants will include specialists/academics, residents, and local project practitioners.