The Recorder – Conway’s Ecoglyph Support Group to Address Climate Anxiety

CONWAY — Conway artists are forming an ecoglyph support group to help people deal with their concerns about the environment and climate change.

Hannah Harvester’s weekly community support groups are designed to help people process their thoughts and fears about climate change and how it will affect their communities in the future.

“The first step in overcoming these feelings is realizing that you’re not alone in this,” Harvester said. We feel these emotions for good reason, so let’s talk about them and take it from there.

Beginning January 9, Harvester will welcome people into her art studio at 46 Delaval Avenue every Monday from 6:30-8:30 pm to provide a space for people to process these emotions and talk to each other. offers.

“I think this is a real need,” Harvester said.

Climate anxiety, or the distress associated with climate and ecological crises, is a rapidly growing sentiment spreading around the world as the effects of climate change become more visible in our everyday lives and on social media. .

In a survey across 10 countries around the world, researchers found that 59% of children and people between the ages of 16 and 25 were ‘very or very concerned’ about the climate, and 84% were ‘at least moderately concerned’ about climate change. I have discovered that In his December 2021 study published in the scientific journal The Lancet.

Harvester said her anxiety stems from the experiences future generations of children will have to endure. Especially since there are already people around the world suffering from extreme wildfires, droughts and torrential rains.

“[Children]are innocent and don’t know what’s going on with the planet they live on. It’s very heartbreaking to me that they’re getting a really bare deal.” she said. “I think most of my grief comes from that.”

British Journal of Psychiatry and National Institutes of Health.

In Harvester’s case, she found her therapist unable to ease her feelings, but several groups dedicated to climate anxiety have formed over the years, including the Good Grief Network and the Work That Reconnects Network. I noticed that.

“I had no idea how much effort was being put into these days to think of ways to address the very difficult feelings people have about climate change and ecological collapse,” Harvester said. . “There’s a lot out there, and I’ve discovered that people are thinking about this.”

First, Harvester said he doesn’t have a “rigorous agenda” because he wants people to be able to get together and discuss their feelings before doing a particular exercise or activity.

In addition, she will host monthly workshops led by trained facilitators. The first workshop will be on her January 28th, led by Karina Lutz, facilitator of the Work That Reconnects network, and will encourage participants to overcome pain and take action.

All meetings and workshops are free and accept donations. The first meeting will be held on January 9th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.