Minds on Climate Symposium: Turning Eco-Anxiety into Action

Lab Coordinator Sarah Merghani and Community Fellow Shatabdy Zahid represented the Wellness Impact Lab at the Minds on Climate Symposium, hosted by Human Nature Projects Canada on September 27. The event brought together students, researchers, community leaders, and mental health practitioners to explore the connections between eco-anxiety, emotional wellbeing, and environmental education.

During the symposium, they presented their research on arts-based interventions for climate emotions, emphasizing how creative practices can support climate wellness and emotional processing. Their work highlights how artistic expression can help individuals navigate climate anxiety, climate grief, and feelings of overwhelm, emotions that are increasingly common as people confront the realities of the climate crisis.

As part of the programming, Shatabdy facilitated a hands-on creative activity inspired by the event’s theme of expressive climate work. Participants engaged in an interactive art-making session that echoed the symposium’s focus on creative scrapbooking as a tool for reflecting on and expressing climate emotions. The workshop was warmly received and created a grounding, reflective environment for attendees to connect with their inner experiences.

The symposium also featured presentations by students and researchers sharing insights on eco-anxiety, mental health, and environmental education. Councillor Amber Morley offered reflections on local climate leadership, while Anureet Kaur delivered a thought-provoking presentation that framed the climate crisis as a nervous system crisis. A thoughtful panel discussion with community leaders and professionals further validated participants’ climate emotions and explored meaningful pathways for community action.

The Minds on Climate Symposium reinforced the importance of integrating arts-based approaches into climate resilience and community mental health work. The event highlighted a growing recognition that creative practices are powerful tools for fostering emotional resilience, community connection, and meaningful climate engagement.