Climate Anxiety in a Young Population at Risk of Suicide

Overview

Background Climate change has become a major source of concern, particularly among younger generations who are facing the progressive degradation of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and alarming environmental information disseminated through the media. The direct perception of climate-related disruptions has been shown to engender a profound sense of helplessness and loss. This distress, termed eco-anxiety, is characterised by feelings of fear, sadness and guilt regarding the planet's future. In a context where there has been a marked increase in suicidal thoughts and attempts among young people over the past decade, it is essential to explore the psychological manifestations of eco-anxiety within this vulnerable population. The paucity of studies investigating this association underscores the significance of the present research. Principal objective The present study aims to examine the relationship between climate anxiety and suicidal risk among young people aged 16 to 24 years. Methods This observational, cross-sectional, and multicentre study will be conducted at the Esquirol Hospital Center and the Mother and Child Hospital of Limoges, as well as at the Departmental Hospital Center La Candélie in Agen. The study will encompass 108 young participants aged between 16 and 24 years, who are either hospitalised or receiving outpatient psychiatric care. Each participant will be required to complete one clinician-administered assessment, namely the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), and two self-report questionnaires: the Climate Change Anxiety Scale - French version (CCAS-FR) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y). Furthermore, a sociodemographic questionnaire will be administered in order to collect information regarding the subjects' age, sex, education level, living conditions, and psychiatric history. Perspectives It is hypothesised that there is a positive association between climate anxiety and suicidal risk, with the most eco-anxious participants showing higher C-SSRS scores. It is further predicted that eco-anxiety will correlate with elevated levels of state and trait anxiety, with the potential for modulating this relationship by sociodemographic factors, including gender. Expected benefits This study will contribute to a better understanding of the psychological impacts of climate change on young people and help identify the most vulnerable profiles. The findings could support suicide prevention strategies, guide the development of specific therapeutic tools for eco-anxious youth, and foster future longitudinal research on the evolution of these conditions and their comorbidities

The Anx-RS France study investigates the association between climate change-related anxiety (eco-anxiety) and suicidal ideation among young people aged 16 to 24 years in France. Growing evidence suggests that climate change may contribute to psychological distress and feelings of hopelessness in younger generations. However, data on the link between eco-anxiety and suicide risk in this age group remain limited. This is an observational, cross-sectional study including 108 participants recruited from university settings and the general population in France. Eligible participants are aged 16-24 years, fluent in French, and provide informed consent (parental consent is obtained for minors). Participants will be excluded if they have a health condition that prevents them from understanding or completing the study questionnaires. This includes major sensory impairments (e.g., deafness, blindness), severe psychiatric disorders affecting cognition or communication (e.g., acute psychosis, pervasive developmental disorder, confusional state), or current hospitalization in specialized psychiatric units for severe mental illness. Participants complete a self-administered online survey composed of three validated instruments: * Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS) - measuring anxiety, rumination, and functional impairment related to climate change. * State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T/Y) - assessing general trait anxiety levels. * Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) - evaluating suicidal ideation and behavior. Descriptive analyses will estimate the prevalence and intensity of climate-related anxiety. Correlational and multivariate analyses will assess the association between eco-anxiety (CCAS) and suicidal ideation (C-SSRS), adjusting for general anxiety levels (STAI-T/Y). The results will improve understanding of how climate-related distress affects mental health and suicide risk among young people in France, and support prevention strategies and mental-health policy adaptation to emerging environmental stressors.