Climate change is exacerbating Colorado’s mental health crisis. We need leaders who will tackle it head-on.

Of course, a central part of the solution to eco-anxiety lies in desperately needed policy change. That means bolstering environmental protections at the federal, state and local level. The best treatment for eco-anxiety is collective action around climate and commitment from those in power to prioritize this issue before it’s too late.

We can’t wait, however, for policy changes to come about before helping Coloradans who experience eco-anxiety. We must acknowledge and validate these feelings among our friends and neighbors, and mental health providers must be prepared to help clients navigate these difficult feelings. We must invest the time, energy and resources needed to adequately research eco-anxiety and train our mental health workforce to provide the appropriate clinical interventions.

Finally, greater civic involvement is needed, and that includes voting to elect leaders who are committed to prioritizing the health and well-being of our communities by prioritizing policy solutions to mitigate the climate crisis. The impact of this issue spans financial, housing, health and overall well-being domains.