Climate change and mental health: Project summary

There are adults in power making decisions about climate change on behalf of the future of young people. We want to make sure that young people in Blackpool, UK have the opportunity to explore their opinions and feelings about climate change.

Some unhelpful,
like intense worry – making us feel weighed down and lonely.

• Work as a group of young co-researchers on climate change topics relevant to Blackpool and mental wellbeing.

• Share our findings with adults making decisions about climate change on behalf of young people, so the opinions and feelings of young people in Blackpool are considered in their actions.

University-based reseacher
Viktoria Erlacher
University of Brighton / CRSJ

Community co-researcher
Henry Pollock
University of Brighton / CRSJ

Project partner
Sam Richardson
Resilience Revolution Blackpool

Viktoria Erlacher is a young PhD student at the University of Brighton’s Centre of Resilience for Social Justice and a Boingboing volunteer. In line with the Boingboing approach to resilience she wants to make sure to hold systems accountable rather than blaming the individual for their struggles. 

I’m an assistant co-production worker at Boingboing. Before this I did a PhD on the metaphysics of time. I’ve also done a bit of policy work around sustainability, and I’m really interested in how issues about climate change interact with issues about social justice. So obviously I’m very excited to be a part of the climate co-research group! 

Sam Richardson is a Youth Engagement Worker for the HeadStart Blackpool programme and a proud co-leader of the Blackpool Resilience Revolution! He was born and educated in Blackpool and is passionate about tackling inequality in all its forms.