Almost 80 per cent of young people in Canada feel that climate change has impacted their mental health. Thirty-seven per cent say their feelings about climate change have a negative impact on their day-to-day functioning and 56 per cent report feeling sad, anxious and powerless. And most of these young people are not talking to anyone about how they’re feeling.

These are the findings from a recently released study of 1,000 Canadians aged 16 to 25 by researchers from Lakehead University.

As a parent and grandparent, I’m devastated by the report — but not surprised. The truth is that Canada and Canadians as a whole are not showing young people that we’re willing to stand up and make the changes we need to turn the climate crisis around.

Emissions keep going up, the economy is becoming more unstable and environmental racism continues. We’re putting our kids at risk right now, and their anxiety is caused in large part because they don’t see adults […]