World Mental Health Day takes place every year today, October 10, and this year’s theme is “access to mental health in catastrophes and emergencies.” It’s a theme that feels painfully relevant after yet another year of devastating extreme weather crises—I’m thinking especially of the LA wildfires and Texas floods as I write this. Disasters like these generate psychological stress for almost everyone impacted, and sometimes these impacts can linger for months or years in the form of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and other mental health challenges. Disasters also tend to disrupt mental health services and make it harder for people to access the care they need.
Tell Congress: Support Mental Wellness Resources for Communities Facing Weather Disasters
Sadly, we know that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of weather disasters and that the mental health impacts of these disasters will almost certainly expand in the coming years. The good news, though, is that we have more resources than ever to support individuals and communities in finding ways to build resilience and cope.
Here are nine things you can do to support mental health in a changing climate this World Mental Health Day:
1. Take a mental health screening.
Disasters can exacerbate existing mental health issues; if you’re already struggling with anxiety, depression, or other challenges, it may be harder to cope when crisis strikes. A mental health screening can help you take the next step toward getting support if you need it.
Mental Health America offers online screenings for a wide range of mental health conditions; its anxiety and depression screening are available in both English and Spanish. You can also ask your doctor for a mental health screening at any time. Full disclosure: I did this myself a few months ago and began treatment for anxiety and depression again with the support of my doctor, a therapist, and new medications. The support has been profoundly helpful in navigating a challenging time in my life and in the world. If you find that you need mental health support too, I hope you will seek it out.
2. Destigmatize conversations about mental health by having them.
Everything is intense right now, and checking in with people can go a long way toward fostering the connection and community that help us cope in difficult times. Make a point to check in with people you care about on a regular basis to see how they’re really doing—and chances are, they’ll do the same for you too.
3. Sign up for a climate café.
If you’ve experienced intense emotions about recent disasters or the climate crisis in general, you are not alone. Climate cafés are facilitated spaces where people can come together to share their thoughts and feelings about climate change in a supportive community of peers. They’re offered regularly by organizations like the Climate Psychology Alliance (find upcoming climate café offerings), and participants often find them to be powerful, meaningful, and supportive.
4. If you’re a parent or have kids in your life, download the Help Kids Cope app.
The Help Kids Cope app is one of my favorite disaster mental health resources for families. Created by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, the app offers age-appropriate scripts for talking to kids about a wide range of weather disasters, including floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. Having this on your phone before a climate disaster can help you be as prepared as possible for supporting the kids in your life before, during, and after a scary event.
5. Read the Climate Mental Health Network’s new guide for parents and caregivers.
Available in both English and Spanish, the Climate Mental Health Network’s new resource for caregivers offers gentle, expert support for those who want to help their children cope with difficult climate emotions, from climate anxiety to stress from extreme weather events.
6. Learn about supporting neurodivergent kids during and after disasters.
As the mom of a neurodivergent child and as a neurodivergent individual myself, I appreciate that there are resources available for learning how to support people like us in moments of crisis. Neurodivergent children (and their parents!) may be especially sensitive to the disruptions in routine, intense stress, and sensory overload that can come with disasters and can also be at higher risk for developing post-traumatic stress after disasters. I found this article on helping kids with autism after a natural disaster to be especially helpful.
7. Explore the new Unthinkable Resource Hub.
One of the best new climate and mental resources is Unthinkable’s Resource Hub, which allows you to create a curated digital “care package” of resources tailored to your specific needs. Give it a try and share with a friend who might need a climate care package too.
8. Find ways to take action in your everyday life.
For many people, participating in climate action can be a powerful way to channel climate anxiety and stress related to extreme weather. Collective action, especially, can promote a sense of connection and hope even amid other difficult emotions. SHIFT—the Super High-Impact Initiative for Fixing Tomorrow—has a fantastic new resource to help you identify the most impactful ways you can take action. Check it out.
9. Support policies that call for community mental wellness and resilience.
Last but certainly not least, you can support policies that promote resilience-building strategies at the community level, such as the Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2025. This bill calls for resources for supporting local mental wellness and resilience coordinating networks, which can help communities respond more effectively to disasters and the resulting mental health needs that arise. Call your members of Congress and ask them to support the House (HR 4744) or Senate (S 2445) versions of the bill—or sign our Moms Clean Air Force petition.
Tell Congress: Support Mental Wellness Resources for Communities Facing Weather Disasters