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Linet Nabwire, Founder & Team Lead of Climate Transformation Network
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By Linet Nabwire
As a youth climate activist, I have seen firsthand the immense toll that the climate crisis is taking on our mental health. As the founder and team lead of the Climate Transformation Network, a Christian-based environmental organization in Uganda, I work closely with young people from across Africa who are fighting tirelessly to build climate resilience in their communities. Through our work, the connection between the state of our planet and the state of our minds has become painfully clear.
The impacts of climate change are relentless and overwhelming. Drought, flooding, crop failure, biodiversity loss—these are the new realities that youth activists confront daily, not just in distant news reports, but in their own backyards. The emotional burden is immense. Many of the young people I work with express feelings of grief, anxiety, anger, and despair in the face of these escalating threats. "It sometimes feels like the weight of the world is on our shoulders," shared Amina, a 23-year-old activist from Kenya. "We're fighting to protect our homes, our livelihoods, our very futures—but the challenges just keep mounting. It's emotionally exhausting."
This emotional exhaustion can manifest in a variety of ways—burnout, depression, panic attacks, and even suicidal ideation. A recent study by the University of Bath found that over 45% of young people globally reported feelings of climate anxiety, with many experiencing detrimental impacts on their daily functioning and mental well-being.
The most marginalized communities—including women, girls, and those living in poverty—often bear the brunt of this mental health crisis. Their vulnerability to the physical impacts of climate change is compounded by systemic inequities that limit their access to mental health resources and support. "As young African women, we're on the frontlines of this crisis, but we're also the ones with the least power and resources to cope," said Fatima, a youth activist from Nigeria. "It's an impossible situation that takes an enormous toll."
But even in the face of these immense challenges, the young people I work with continue to show incredible resilience, strength, and determination. They are channeling their pain into purpose, using their platforms to raise awareness, advocate for change, and build community-led solutions.
Through the Climate Transformation Network, we're creating spaces for youth activists to connect, share their stories, and support each other's mental health. We're also working to integrate mental health support into our climate advocacy efforts, providing training, counseling, and wellness resources to empower our young leaders.
Ultimately, the fight for climate justice and the fight for mental health are inextricably linked. We cannot achieve one without the other. As youth activists, we must continue to be the voices that refuse to be silenced, the hands that refuse to be idle, and the hearts that refuse to be broken.
The storm clouds may be dark, but the sun is still shining. Together, we will weather this crisis—for the sake of our planet and for the sake of our own mental well-being.
The writer is a passionate climate justice advocate
Founder & Team Lead of Climate Transformation Network
