Eco-Anxiety and People in Remote Areas

Module overview

In this module, you will explore how eco-anxiety uniquely affects individuals living in remote and rural areas, where environmental changes tend to be more immediate, visible and deeply interconnected with daily life. You will examine the psychological toll of climate change in isolated settings and learn practical, context-specific strategies to support mental health and strengthen community resilience.

Learning goals

By the end of this module, you will:

• Understand the environmental and psychological challenges faced by people in remote and rural areas

• Recognise how eco-anxiety appears in isolated communities

• Explore the social, cultural and infrastructural factors influencing mental health in rural contexts

• Identify strategies for addressing eco-anxiety when mental health resources are limited

• Develop culturally sensitive, community-based responses to climate distress

What you will be able to do

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Define eco-anxiety in the context of remote and rural populations

• Describe how environmental degradation affects mental health in rural communities

• Identify the most common barriers to care and support in isolated regions

• Apply place-based, low-resource strategies to support individuals and communities

• Facilitate local initiatives that build connection, empowerment and climate resilience