Stay free from climate anxiety

Spunout, Ireland’s youth information and support platform, has been awarded €37,000 to run a new project linking climate change with mental health. The funding comes from the Youth Climate Justice Fund, which supports projects that help young people understand climate issues and take positive action.

The new Spunout project will focus on climate anxiety — the worry and fear many young people feel when thinking about the climate crisis. It will share simple, practical information to help young people cope with those feelings, while also showing how they can take action in their own lives.

The project has three main goals:

- Explaining climate anxiety and mental health: Spunout will publish clear, youth-friendly information about how the climate crisis affects people’s emotions. It will also point young people to services like Text About It helpline.

- Reaching young people online: Spunout will use TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to share videos and posts about climate justice, aiming to reach over 250,000 young people across the country.

- Creating a youth-led Climate Action Statement: Spunout’s Youth Action Panels will help shape the organisation’s future work on climate justice over the next five years.

Welcoming the announcement, Maria Towey, Acting CEO said: “Using a mental health lens will enable us to raise awareness about climate justice and a just transition among our youth audience in a supportive and non-judgmental manner. We can acknowledge the anxiety and uncertainty people can feel when it comes to climate and the climate crisis, while informing them of practical ways to manage these feelings and where they can go for support.”

The Youth Climate Justice Fund supports projects for people age 8-25. It gives funding to groups that raise awareness of climate issues and encourage action.

Since 2020, the fund has supported dozens of youth projects, investing almost €3 million in total. The aim is to give young people the knowledge, confidence, and tools to act on climate issues while building supportive communities.

Spunout is Ireland’s youth information and support platform, working to help young people thrive. It provides free, accessible services, shares trusted information on mental health and wellbeing, offers anonymous text support, and amplifies youth voices through real stories and experiences.