This article featuring Dr. Kiffer Card was published in the newsletter for Michael Smith Health Research BC on April 22, 2025. It describes the research done by Dr. Card and his research team, co-led by Dr. Arden Henley, studying the mental health effects of climate change on young people.
With the support of a Michael Smith Health Research BC Convening & Collaborating (C2) award and in partnership with Mental Health Research Canada, Dr. Card and Dr. Henley held focus groups examining their reactions to climate change. The focus groups allowed the youth to voice their concerns: better climate education, stronger community engagement and more accessible mental health support to help build resilience.
The findings of this research are published in this report, Repairing the Social Contract: Undertaking the Co-Design of Climate Distress Services for Young People in British Columbia. The findings are being used to inform mental health professionals and policymakers, and has led to a $1.8 million investment by the BC government to create new programs, resources, and support services to address the mental health impacts of climate change.
Read the entire article in Health Research BC news here.
Dr. Kiffer Card is Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. He is also President of the Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance.
Dr. Arden Henley is the Executive Director of the Green Technology Education Centre, and former VP of CityU in Canada and founder of CityU counselling programs.
If you would like to read more articles about young people and climate change, check out GTEC’s Youth blogs.