On the 5th of November 2025, host Georgia Kostadinoff broadcast The Social Frequency on 94.7 The Pulse, dedicating the hour to a holistic, multi-faceted chat about the wastefree events and climate anxiety.
The program first welcomed Jess Hobbs from Waste Free Events, who discussed the simple but profound impact of switching from single-use items to reusables at events.
In the second half, Georgia spoke with Hasini Gunasiri, a researcher from the University of Melbourne, about the critical link between climate change and mental health, addressing concepts like eco-anxiety and pre-trauma.
This Social Frequency hour explores how community-level action and psychological support are essential for navigating the climate crisis.
From school fetes to the Australian Open – making any event waste-free
An interview with Jess Hobbs, Founder of Waste Free Events, on how simple changes can drastically reduce event waste.
Jess Hobbs, the founder of Waste Free Events, didn’t start with a grand plan for a green revolution – she started with an overflowing bin at her children’s school fete.
“The thing that I really noticed was the amount of rubbish that was at the event… it didn’t sit right,” she recalls. The waste stood in stark contrast to the school’s core values and year-round practices, such as composting and gardening. That moment was the catalyst for a journey that has since seen her work with music festivals and even the Australian Open.
The simple switch: Reusable over single-use
After committing to change, the first tangible step was addressing the biggest culprit: single-use food and drink packaging.
- The solution: The school event switched out all throwaway items for reusable bowls, cups, plates, and cutlery. Parents volunteered to wash the items, which were then reused.
- The impact: The results were astonishing. Waste going to landfill dropped from six full 240-litre garbage bins down to a quarter of a bin – an over 90 per cent reduction.
Beyond the environmental benefits, Jess notes that adopting a reusable system actually saves money and creates a positive, engaging atmosphere. The visible act of washing dishes serves as a powerful reminder of how quickly single-use items are discarded.
Growth and new fixations
After the success at the school, Jess began to expand her venture, which included renting out items she had sourced secondhand from previous businesses to avoid creating new product waste. This commitment has resulted in a “mish mash” of unique items, including colourful pieces made from recycled bottle tops.
Her work has now branched out, with a focus on a particularly prevalent item of single-use waste: coffee cups. Jess is now involved with Good Cup, a reuse system that addresses this specific problem.
More than just a clean-up
Jess’ philosophy is clear: small, tangible actions make a difference, and community involvement is key.
“We can all do these small actions and that can just make massive difference,” she says. This supportive approach is a huge part of the solution, acknowledging that people sometimes “can’t be bothered” at the end of an event. She encourages everyone to remember that “there’s going to be someone else who’s having to pick up that mess afterwards” (that’s hard labour, by the way, sometimes involving entire days of work).
Green Music Australia have also developed a ‘camping buddy’ app to encourage festival goers to borrow gear instead of buying cheap, disposable items. The feeling of responsibility you have when borrowing is a great idea.
Eco-anxiety and climate grief: normal reactions to an existential crisis
Researcher Dr Hasini Gunasiri breaks down the profound mental health toll of climate change and what society can do to help, especially for young people.
Climate change is often discussed in terms of physical threats – hotter temperatures and extreme weather events – but it is also a growing mental health emergency.
Dr Hasini Gunasiri, a researcher from the University of Melbourne, is studying the specific ways it affects young people’s mental health.
The psychological toll
Globally, people are experiencing rising levels of stress, anxiety, hopelessness, powerlessness, fear, and grief due to climate change. Hasini identifies several distinct psychological effects:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Develops in survivors exposed to extreme weather events like floods, bushfires, or prolonged droughts, often involving loss of home, livelihood, or loved ones.
- Pre-trauma: Distress or anxiety felt in anticipation of climate-related events or the worsening of the crisis.
- Eco-anxiety: Persistent worry about the planet’s future.
- Eco-grief: Sadness that comes from witnessing the loss of species, ecosystems, or familiar landscapes.
- Solastalgia: The “pain of seeing your home environment change around you,” described as a feeling of homesickness while still at home.
Hasini stresses that these emotional reactions are normal human responses to an unfolding crisis, and they are not signs of individual weakness.
Who is most at risk?
While the crisis affects everyone, some groups are disproportionately impacted:
- Young people: They feel the uncertainty about their future “especially strongly” because they are growing up with it.
- People from low socioeconomic backgrounds: They often have fewer resources to recover after disasters.
- Indigenous communities: Damage to country affects not just the environment but also cultural identity and spiritual connection.
- Those with existing mental health conditions: They may find their symptoms worsen during times of stress.
Coping strategies: A trio of actions
In their research on young Australians, Hasini and her team categorised coping mechanisms into three types:
- Problem-focused coping: Taking direct action, such as engaging in sustainable practices, learning more about climate change, or participating in climate activism. This fosters empowerment and control.
- Emotion-focused coping: Managing feelings through actions like limiting news/social media, spending time in nature, or seeking support from trusted parents and friends.
- Meaning-focused coping: Finding reassurance in society’s growing awareness and scientific progress, which helps them feel their concerns are being heard and that solutions are possible.
However, the research noted that seeking formal mental health support specifically for climate concerns was less commonly sought. Barriers include stigma, a lack of targeted mental health support for climate related issues, limited awareness of available services, and a lack of trust in professionals’ ability to address climate specific concerns.
The impact of denial and the need for validation
A major stressor for young people is climate change denial, which can leave them feeling hurt, stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed when encountered online, in conversation, or in the news.
“What helps is validation,” Hasini says. When their feelings are acknowledged and understood, it makes them feel seen and heard, reducing stress and giving them a sense of hope instead of despair.
Addressing this issue requires a whole-of-society approach at personal, structural, and government levels:
- Structural level: Integrating climate change and mental health into policy and programs, ensuring at-risk groups have access to tailored mental health support and safe spaces.
- Government level: Strong government action on climate change itself, which provides hope and future opportunities. This includes integrating youth perspectives into decision-making.
Dr Hasini Gunasiri’s profile on University of Melbourne’s website
Journal articles:
Healthy Me, Healthy Planet: Evaluation of a pilot planetary health library program
Climate Change and Youth: Fast-Tracking Mental Health Solutions
‘The Social Frequency’ goes to air every Wednesday at 5pm on 94.7FM in Geelong.
Need to talk? If you are affected by any of the topics discussed, please reach out:
- Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Transcript – The Social Frequency on 5 November 2025
Georgia Kostadinoff: (00:24)
Welcome to The Social Frequency, everybody. My name is Georgia and I will be your host for this evening. The same as every Wednesday from 5pm til 6pm. It’s such a pleasure and a privilege to be broadcasting to you today on the unceded lands of the Wadawurrung people. And I want to pay my respects to elders – past, present and emerging as well as any First Nations people listening today. This land always was and always will be Aboriginal land, and thank goodness for that, because they do such a wonderful job of caring for the environment. Something that they’ve been doing for millennia, since time began according to the dreaming.
And so I think we really… considering what we’re experiencing on our planet Earth at the moment, I think it’s really important that we engage with First Nations voices and we listen because they know what they’re doing. They know how to protect these lands.
On that note, today we’re going to be speaking about the environment. We’re going to be having, I think, like a pretty holistic, multi-faceted chat about it.
We’re going to start off the program by talking with Jess Hobbs from Waste Free Events.
And then in the second half of the program, we’re going to be speaking with Hasini Gunasari. She is a researcher and we’re going to talk about climate change and mental health. I will reiterate this later, but I think just in case, just a bit of a content warning. I think that goes probably for all of my programs considering that they’re about social issues, but I think this one might be particularly, particularly sensitive.
So without further ado, Jess Hobbs, welcome to The Social Frequency!
Jess Hobbs: (02:28)
Hello Georgia, thank you so much for having me.
Georgia:
It’s my pleasure. I haven’t really spoken about the environment much of my program yet, despite it being a big passion of mine. So I’m really keen for this conversation. You’ve brought this fantastic energy with you to the studio, which I think is matching mine, but it’s also grounding me in a way.
Jess:
I like that.
Georgia:
Oh, good. All right, Jess, so maybe if you can just start by telling us a little bit about yourself and what the journey was like getting to starting waste free events?
Jess:
Yeah, okay. Well, really for me, I didn’t actually start out in this space. So I started my life being a real music lover and I went off and studied a business degree in the music industry. And yeah, so I’m actually, you know, loving being here in a… this radio program has something, it’s been something that’s come up later in life and probably I’d say really just in the last like six years I would say that, yeah, my life has really been purely focused on this whole waste reduction and environmental space.
The way that it kind of shifted was going to school with my children. They went to this beautiful primary school. And of course, as a parent, you get involved and help out with things. And the thing I helped out with was this big event that they would put on. And the thing that I really noticed was the amount of rubbish that was at the event, sorry, the end of the event. And really, it’s like, not something I guess everyone would notice, but yeah, for me, just didn’t sit right. Cause I saw all of the things that the children would do throughout the year and, you know, they would be composting, had chickens and a garden, all these amazing things. So there just was hardly any rubbish on it throughout the year.
So for me that, you know, when they put on this event and welcomed everyone in, it kind of, yeah, it didn’t sit right because it was like, Hang on! This is not representing the school. This doesn’t align with the real ethos and what they’re teaching.
So for me, I went, Okay, look, I really want to change this.
Yeah, that’s kind of where that shift started. And really in the beginning, I didn’t think that was going to be, you know, now all of a sudden I’m going to start working in this space. So it really was something that just, yeah, it happened organically, I guess. Yeah.
Georgia:
What are the first steps that you took? So you saw the problem, decided that you wanted to change the problem. What happened after that?
Jess: (05:30)
Yeah, so I think that probably was… The number one thing that we did from the start was this real… like, okay, we don’t want this to happen again and again. So there was this real commitment, you know, from like myself, some other parents and teachers that, Okay, this is going to be not just something that we think about in the last couple of weeks before the event. This is something that right from the word go, we are saying, no, this is what we want from our event: We want it to showcase the school. We want it to be beautiful, and we want it to align with our values.
So, that waste free message was, you know, right from the start, one of the important pieces, like, just as important as this is the day that our events on, you know, this is the time. And it was also, and we’re a waste free event and you know, bring your water bottle and all that sort of thing.
And that message was then communicated throughout the school, throughout to the vendors, and it really just made such an impact. So, yeah, I guess that was probably number one. And sorry, what was the question?
Georgia:
So you had the idea and it started off as a concept. Then what was… sort of, like, the tangible actions that you took, exactly?
Jess:
So really what happened next was one major thing that we realised. It was that majority of the event waste that we were producing was these single use food and drink packaging. So we switched them out. And so instead of having anything that was a throwaway item, had bowls and cups and plates and cutlery.
And so, we had a whole heap of stuff. We gave it to all the food vendors and had beautiful parents that came along and washed those for us, and they just got used. Majority would be like plastic, plastic items and, sorry, I’m visualising it. So it’s like, I’m, yeah, I’m getting transported back to the place, but yeah, hockery and stuff.
So what happened was, we went from having six full 240 litre garbage bins, you know, originally in back in that, at the start when we first started out with… so they were full of rubbish. And then when we made this switch and had all these reusable items and had that waste free message that changed, and we got it down to a quarter of a bin that was going to landfill.
So it was, yeah, over a 90 per cent reduction, you know. It was just mind blowing and really, again, that was probably the start of realising like, okay, that there’s something in that there’s, you know, that’s a real, like really significant.
And really, it’s not like… yes, it took some work, but it’s not hard, you know, and it’s not like we did anything crazy, like, it was really simple. Yeah, like, it’s just simple.
Georgia:
I imagine it probably saves money as well because reusable, I mean, yes, well, single use stuff is expensive, right?
Jess:
Absolutely. Yes. Yeah, for sure. Exactly. Well, and that’s it. It’s like, you know, sometimes, you know, I get people asking, like, How do people feel about that? And, you know, it seems a bit strange, but ultimately, it’s actually, it’s a positive thing. And exactly what you’ve just said, it’s like, saves money. It creates a sense of, like, Wow! Isn’t this awesome to be a part of? You know, like, there’s just this real energy that comes with it. It’s like, yeah, there’s so many positives – and saving money is part of it.
Georgia: (09:40)
So you started off, was it just at the school, at your children’s school?
Jess:
Yeah. So what I did was, you know, I did get a little bit excited in the very beginning and thought, great, yep, I’ll start a business and then I’ll do, you know, all of the schools everywhere. But yeah, sadly, when I started the business, it was also coinciding with COVID. So, you know, I went from, yeah, being like ready to go to just completely having to put it on pause.
Then, you know, I picked up the business again, but was always just sort of doing it whilst working as well. So yeah, as far as the business goes, like I’ve done a few schools and then I’ve more so done like, you know, different community groups and things will reach out and I will hire the items to them. So yeah, a little bit less of, you know, me doing the, like, the hands ongoing and doing events, and a bit more of the hiring out items and consulting to different music festivals. I worked at the Australian Open. It was really, yeah, that was fun. Yeah, I was employed as a trash talker. That was the role, which straight away I’m like, That sounds fun! That’s totally, that’s my jam.
Georgia:
Amazing. Yeah.
Jess:
Yeah, I’ve done all kinds of things.
Georgia: (11:14)
Where do you source the stuff that you rent out from?
Jess:
So I’ve actually… all of the items that I have have been from previous businesses that were operating or like previous kind of libraries of stuff. I was very mindful in not wanting to buy things or produce things because I see how much we already have in the world. And I thought I don’t want to go creating more, you know, more things. And if I do create something, I want it to be a really good quality and, not harming the environment. So there’s so many things to think about when you’re doing that.
I have only purchased items secondhand, which means that I’ve got a bit of a mish mash, but I, yeah, I sort of love that. You know, I don’t have anything that’s branded waste free events. I’ve got wash against waste bowls and plates, and I’ve got some other ones that don’t have anything on them, but they’re these amazing colorful items that are made from recycled bottle tops and so, yeah, it’s a bit of a hodgepodge, but I imagine that’s part of the fun of it, though.
I know it is. It’s amazing.
And then, you know, there are some, I’ve got some sort of more like nice boutiquey, like stainless steel plates in nice wooden boxes and yeah, all kinds of things.
Yeah. amazing. Yeah. Cool.
That’s what my crockery collection looks like. I love a good op shop and I just have an infatuation with like vintage crockery and it doesn’t matter how many mugs or plates I have. If I find one that I really need, then I get it. But I also mosaic. sometimes I can use them for that too. Try to use multi-purpose.
Georgia:
It’s the stuff, but it is good to buy things secondhand. I totally agree. What has been the response from the community? They’ve attended a waste free program. What have they had to say about it?
Jess:
Yeah, just positive, know, there’s this kind of like, what, you’re washing our dishes? Like, hang on, can I help? You know, like there’s a real sense of, you know, appreciation. And I think, I mean, for me, like what I would really hope would be that someone experiences it and then goes on to, you know, make a change in their life.
That’s something that I, you know, I don’t really know all of the possible, um, you know, things that have happened, but I do know that, um, you know, every now and again, I’ll get sent like a text message that’ll be like, Oh Jess, look, you know, taking my cup when I’ve got my coffee and, know, things like that, that I, yeah, that that’s kind of that really, you know, gives me that, uh, a bit of, you know, it like, it might. to seem really insignificant, but for me, it really means something because I guess, I mean, yeah, at the end of the day, there is, you know, I can’t do all of these things and be a perfect, environmentally perfect person. But we can all do these small actions and that can just make massive difference. yeah, that is really something that, yeah, I just, I think, yeah, it’s also just being able to see something.
Yeah, I think, like, I think the whole, you know, a lot of times, like the items might be just, you know, rinsed and then they’ll go through a dishwasher before they’re going back to, you know, the food vendors. But even just that act of people seeing, you know, the dishes getting rinsed, it’s that real visual of like, that’s right. I just had that thing to eat and I would have only used it for a few moments.
Georgia:
Yeah, totally. There’s something really, can I get really upset at any event you go to the bins are always like piled up and I’ve seen pictures and it’s interesting what you said at the start about how people don’t realise how much waste is left because yeah, they leave and they’re not there to see it at the end. I’ve seen pictures of music festivals where people will leave entire tents, and all of this, not just, yeah, litter, but hard rubbish. There’s someone who has to clean that up, but there’s also the matter of it needs to go somewhere. And it’s, it’s pretty appalling. Yeah.
Jess:
It is. Actually that was probably like part of my journey. Right. Like at the very beginning, I did volunteer with a group called Be Alternative and I got to go up to Splendour in the Grass. And yeah, it was amazing because I, yeah, working with them, like their whole, you know, role there at the festival was to, you know, it was like campground education, so talking to people about exactly what you’ve just said, like, okay, guys, like, you know, well, I mean, through the event, you know, trying to get them to, you know, be sure that you’re putting your recycling in the recycling and all that sort of thing. And, you know, we had little competitions and stuff, but then, yeah, part of our role was at the end, you know, catching people before they were going to try and go, okay, hey, we can help you clean, you know, you’re not just gonna like get up and go in this like community practice.
Which of course we couldn’t – I mean, there was a fair crew of us, but yeah, obviously there were, you know… we didn’t get to everyone. There was so much stuff left. But yeah, that was definitely an eye opener for me. Yeah, for sure. Like just kind of, yeah, getting taken out of my little tiny, primary school. And then, yeah, it’s like, whoa, okay, that’s a whole other game.
Georgia:
Do know how long it takes and how much effort it takes to clean up something like the aftermath of a festival?
Jess:
Well, look, I mean, know for myself, yeah, we probably, like we had people working, you know, well, certainly in entire days. Yeah. But there was also just these other elements of, you know, we were trying to collect, you know, items that’s like, okay, with this tent, yep, this might just need a repair. So, yep, that’ll go in that pile. This is completely fine. You know, like there would…
Georgia: (18:36)
You’re to repurpose it?
Jess:
Yes. Absolutely. That is, you know, I know that doesn’t happen at all festivals, but that certainly was, you know, something that had been built into Splendour in the Grass. So yeah, I was very grateful. You know, it would have been quite upsetting to be involved in something where it’s just all going to rubbish. But yeah, that was, yeah, again, you know, good to see that they were, yeah, trying to manage the situation.
But also now, sorry, now I’m thinking about like, they’ve gone beyond that. So Green Music Australia have like developed this camping buddy app and, you know, guide to kind of, you know, encourage people like before you go into the festival, you know, okay, like, do you actually need to buy that tent? You know, rather than buying a crappy Kmart tent, like, can you just borrow someone’s or, you know, and so, yeah, you’re right, there’s been a lot of work around that side of things. So yes, it’s clearly still happening, but yeah.
That’s a great idea, think, especially if you borrow someone’s something else, you feel this sense of responsibility for it, right? You’re just going to leave it behind. But if you’ve spent $20 on a tent at Kmart, like you can just leave it behind, which is not good.
It’s not good, no. And you can, well, you can apply that to every, lots of other things, can’t you? Like clothing and yeah…
Totally. And I like that you’ve, there’s like this supportive sort of, you’re taking a supportive approach because I get that people at the end of a festival can be feeling a little bit seedy and they just can’t be bothered. Like I’ve been there. my gosh. But it is really important. And I think if you remember that there’s going to be someone else who’s having to pick up that mess afterwards, that might prompt some people to maybe be more responsible for themselves.
Georgia:
Jess, what are your hopes for the future? What is waste free events going to look like in like, I don’t know, a year or five years from now?
Jess: (20:41)
Hmm. That is a good question. Look, for me right now, I have also, so I’m still doing my waste free events, but I’m also working with Good Cup, which is this reuse system. It’s addressing the single use cup problem that we have, which is, yeah. And that no matter like what I do, I just end up getting really fixated on coffee cups. And so, yeah, when I stumbled across Good Cup, I just went, my goodness, this is amazing. I need to get involved. And so really, I think for me right now, I am, yeah, all about, yeah, educating people about coffee cups, but also encouraging this reuse system because, yeah, I see that single use coffee cups aren’t going anywhere and we love coffee and we love our takeaway coffee. Yes, you can try and bring your keep cup, you know, people do. You can sit in and have your coffee, but you know, there still needs to be a solution for, yeah, the rest of them. And yeah, that’s what good cup is doing. Yeah. that is kind of, I am very busy, which yeah, is great.
I love, yeah, it’s like I was thinking, yeah, really like, yeah, getting to do things each day that you are actually passionate about is just, really, yeah, it makes such a difference. It’s like, I just constantly feel this sense of like, wow, how cool is this?
We were speaking this morning about the impetus to do community work, right? And I think for people who are doing it, it just feels like what you’re supposed to be doing. It doesn’t feel so much like charity work. It’s like, well, I’m a member of the community and so it’s my responsibility to participate and to contribute to the community.
I’ve had a few people, I’ve got a few roles here at the station and anytime I tell people that they say, you’re doing that without getting paid or that sounds like, you know, a lot of work for, you know, to be volunteering. And I think, but like, I just really enjoy it and I do it because I love it. And I do it because it just feels like what I’m supposed to be doing. doesn’t, you know, yeah, it’s good. So I’m glad that you have that experience as well. think it’s important. How can people… get, yeah, how can people get in touch with you? How can they get a waste free event going and maybe just quickly touch on like how, yeah, how that process kind of gets started. Yeah.
Yeah, absolutely. So probably the best thing like I am on, you know, all the socials, on Instagram, Facebook. Instagram handle. I think just waste free events, it’s so boring, isn’t it – I know but yeah, it really was in the beginning like what I’m starting a business, what do I call it? Yep okay. People won’t be confused about what’s happening, so that’s good. Exactly. Accessible.
Yeah, so I am linked in with Geelong Sustainability. They have always been, you know, a real supporter of me. Another way that you can find me is through their website. So yeah, they’ve got a section that’s on services and events and how to be waste free. So that’s another way.
And what else was I saying? and please look up The Good Cup. I mean, if you have a favorite cafe that you go to and you would like to see them, you know, offering another solution and not just, yeah, single use cups, check out goodcup.au or again, yeah, on Instagram and it’s just as easy as getting in contact with you and then you’ll sort of facilitate the rest really. They just have to say,
Pretty much. Yeah. Sorry. I know I don’t have my little need the little, yeah. Check off.
Georgia: (25:02)
No, but I think, that’s good because I think sometimes these things can be a bit overwhelming, especially when you’re doing something for the first time. And so if you’re just there to be like, yeah, if you’re keen to do a waste free event, like I’m going to guide you through the whole process. I will be there with you every step of the way. And I love that. Jess, thank you so much. My pleasure. We’re going to take a little break. think Jess is going to stick around, right? And you’re going to join in on the next ConBrow. You’re to head off.
Jess: (25:28)
No worries, thank you for having me. Look, I might just listen in. I’m intrigued. I want to learn more.
Georgia:
Yeah, I think it’s going to be great. After the break, we’re going to be speaking with Hasini Gunasari about, yeah, we’re going to kind of follow on from that conversation and we’re going to talk about climate change and we’re going to talk about climate anxiety, which is something that I certainly experience and I dare say some of the listeners do as well.
Jingle:
The voice of Geelong. 94.7 The Pulse.
Georgia:
Next up, Hasini Gunasiri, we’ve got her on the line. How’s it going?
Hasini Gunasiri:
Hi. You are so welcome.
Georgia:
I’m really looking forward to having this conversation. But I think, yeah, importantly, I need to just say that before we get started, this interview
Thank you for having me today.
Georgia: (26:20.258)
We’ll discuss mental health and it’s going to be a little bit triggering for some listeners or potentially very triggering. so if you’re not really feeling up to thinking about climate change and mental health right now, you might like to just tune out for a little bit. But I will, however, facilitate the conversation with compassion and I intend to create a safe space for any listeners.
And if there’s anyone who does feel affected by the topics discussed, please consider reaching out. There’s Lifeline Australia on 131114 or you can call Beyond Blue on 1300 224636. Hasini, welcome to the social frequency. I’m really excited to have you on the program. I would love for you to just start by, I guess, giving us a little overview of who you are and what has led you to focus on climate change and mental health in your research.
Hasini:
Absolutely. So, I’m originally from Sri Lanka. I came to Australia six years ago to do my masters. And then I got a scholarship and did my PhD on climate change impacts on young people’s mental health. But before, like, prior to doing this research, I was not aware of the links between climate change and mental health. So it is a new field for me. And when I was living in Sri Lanka, we experienced annual floods, but I never linked that to climate change or to our mental health. So yeah, it’s been a long journey for me to come here and learn about climate change and how we can address it.
Georgia:
Yeah, absolutely. Hasini, so climate change, as you said, it’s not just a physical threat, it’s a mental health emergency as well. So I’m wondering if you can just tell us and help us understand the scope and the nature of these challenges.
Hasini:
Yeah, for sure. So we often think about climate change in physical terms, like hotter temperatures, other extreme weather events, and the direct health risks they bring. But it’s also taking a real toll on people’s mental health as well. Around the world and here in Australia, people are experiencing growing levels of stress, anxiety, hopelessness, powerlessness, fear, and grief linked to climate change. For many, this starts with exposure to extreme weather events, like floods, bushfires, or prolonged droughts. We know that these experiences can be traumatic. People may lose their home, their livelihoods, or even loved ones. So it’s not uncommon for survivors to develop post-traumatic stress disorder, we call it PTSD, which can involve flashbacks and ongoing anxiety long after the event itself. But the psychological effects aren’t limited to those directly affected by disasters. There’s also what we call pre-trauma which is distress or anxiety. People feel in anticipation of climate-related events or the worsening of the climate crisis. Beyond that, many people experience eco-anxiety, which is persistent worry about the planet’s future, and eco-grief, which is the sadness that comes from witnessing the loss of species, ecosystems or familiar landscapes. There’s another powerful concept called small nostalgia which is the pain of seeing your home environment change around you. Like when a once green farming region becomes barren or a coastal community faces rising seas. It’s kind of homesickness you feel while still at home.
But I also want to mention that it’s really important to understand that these emotional reactions are normal human responses to an unfolding crisis. So they’re not signs of individual weakness. So we shouldn’t pathologise their distress. But for some, that distress can become overwhelming when proper mental health support is crucial. yeah, climate change is a mental health emergency as well as an environmental one.
Georgia:
Yeah, absolutely. The word that you said there, normal, really does capture it because of course you would experience mental health problems because of something like that. I haven’t experienced an actual weather event or something like that, but I definitely hold a lot of fear about the future and that thinking about my children and my children’s children and what what planet are we leaving for them? That can be really stressful, I think. Hasini, are there certain groups that are perhaps more impacted by perhaps climate anxiety and trauma than others?
Hasini:
Yes, Georgia. So some groups are more likely to experience these mental health impacts of climate change. For example, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds often have fewer resources to recover after disasters, and those with existing mental health conditions may find their symptoms worsen during times of stress. And indigenous communities are also at greater risk because damage to country affects not just the environment but cultural identity and spiritual connection. And young people are feeling this especially strongly because they growing up with uncertainty about their future.
Georgia:
What are some of the coping strategies that are being used by Australians to navigate this?
Hasini:
Yeah, so in our research we also have looked at coping strategies used by young Australians. So young people are using a variety of strategies to cope with climate change which can be grouped into three types. So problem focused, emotion focused, and meaning focused coping.
So with problem-focused coping, it involves taking action to address the issue directly. So many young people learn more about climate change, engage in sustainable practices, or take part in climate activism. So doing something tangible can help them feel more empowered and in control.
With emotion-focused coping, it’s about managing the feelings that come with worrying about climate change. So this can include turning off or limiting news and social media, spending time in nature, seeking support from your parents and friends. However, we found that mental health support was less commonly sought, specifically for climate concerns, but talking with trusted people can help them process their emotions. And with meaning-focused coping, young people often find reassurance in society’s growing awareness of climate change and also in scientific progress, which helps them feel their concerns are being heard and that solutions are possible.
Because yes, of course, one can engage in coping strategies, but it’s definitely a whole of society issue. So what does your research kind of touch on perhaps what governments and society as a whole needs to do?
Yeah, for sure. I think addressing this issue requires action at personal level as well. personal level, structural level, and government level. On a personal level, we can benefit from being actively involved. So taking climate action, engaging in discussions, advocating for change or contributing to projects can create a sense of whole purpose and empowerment.
And it’s important to remember that every small action counts. So even simple steps like recycling, walking, taking public transport, or reducing energy use can make a real difference. taking part in these actions can help young people feel more in control, hopeful, and connected to solutions. At a structural level, I think we need uh… all of the fighting apart though I’m going to tell you can art and uh… policy and program to integrate climate change and mental health ensuring that young people and other at risk group uh… like those with pre-existing mental issues uh… people from a lot of economic background have access to tailored mental health support, education, and safe spaces to discuss these concerns. Our findings also highlighted that government action on climate change itself can have a positive mental health impact by providing hope and future opportunities and showing that real progress is possible.
So government policies that link climate and mental health can improve well-being through things like integrating mental health into climate adaptation strategies, embedding climate considerations into youth policies, coordinating environmental and health initiatives, and supporting ongoing research in this area. and another important thing is including young people in decision-making processes regarding climate change and health.
Georgia:
For anyone who’s just joined the conversation, we’re speaking with Hasini Gunasiri from Melbourne University. She’s a researcher who focuses on climate change and mental health, particularly around young people. Now, Haseeni, everything that you’ve said, you know, it’s very clear to me that there’s a problem. You’ve done the research. However, there are still some people, especially people out there with a voice who will deny climate change. So I’m wondering how does the process of invalidation and climate change denial, how does that impact people’s mental health?
Hasini:
Yeah, that’s a real issue, So we actually look at this in our research as well. So climate change denial can be really upsetting for young people. And young people in our research said that they felt hurt, stressed, anxious, or even overwhelmed when they came across denial, whether online, in conversation or in the news. But what helps is validation. So when their feelings about climate change are acknowledged and understood, it makes them feel seen and heard. So that simple recognition can reduce stress, help them process their emotions, and give them a sense of hope instead of despair. So that’s really important.
Georgia: (39:32)
Hasini, I noticed in one of your studies that there was a lot of participants who said they didn’t reach out for mental health support as a coping strategy for climate change related mental health issues and I’m wondering why that is?
Hasini:
Yeah, that’s a really good question and there are several reasons for that. Not all young people have the same access to coping strategies, so some lack supportive environments, awareness or platforms to express their concerns. Other barriers include stigma, a lack of targeted mental health support for climate related issues, limited awareness of available services and a lack of trust that mental health professionals can address climate specific concerns.
So these are some of the things that we found in our research. So I think it shows that improving access awareness and tailored support is really important so young people feel safe and empowered to manage climate-related mental health challenges.
Georgia:
Absolutely. Hasini, thank you so much for all of the work you do but especially for coming on my program and speaking about climate change and mental health. I think it’s a really important subject and yeah, good on you for doing that work.
Hasini: (41:04)
Thanks so much, Georgia. Thanks so much for the opportunity.
You’re very welcome. We’ve been speaking with Hasini Gunasiri from Melbourne University about climate change and mental health. Yeah, again, like I said earlier, if you feel affected by that conversation or you know anybody who’s having a hard time with their mental health, especially due to climate anxiety or really anything at all, please reach out to Lifeline on 131114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Georgia: (41:55)
Well, that’s all we’ve got time for today on the social frequency. That song in the background, that’s what I was playing at the start. It is Blank Spaces by Bellpost Hill. I forgot to back announce it.
It’s been an absolute pleasure to have these really important conversations with you and I just feel so lucky to connect with the community over the airwaves every Wednesday.
Liam is not in for grooves on the record tonight. He is a bit unwell, so yeah. Stay tuned, however, for a great Aussies overnight program. We’re gonna be bringing you some really great Australian music all night long. Again, thanks so much for joining me. My name’s Georgia. Look after yourself, look after each other, and see you next week!