Youth Climate Action Fund

By Kayla Bradley As rates of adolescent mental health issues have steadily grown over the last few decades, a lesser-known mental health challenge has silently brewed a storm of uncertainty. Climate anxiety, or chronic fear or distress about climate change and its impacts, has become an increasing issue for youth, including here in Malden. A recent Cambridge Health Alliance assessment found that 45% of youth in the region report high or very high mental health distress. Among the stressors identified was climate change. As the climate crisis continues to be exacerbated by human activity, the world faces severe flooding, intensified storms and extreme heat. The latter can have particular impact here in Malden, where some neighborhoods have been identified for extreme heat risk. Without adequate agency to address these threats, many youth across Malden feel uncertain of the planet’s future. Some cope with that anxiety by simply tuning out. “I find that my peers have this level of unawareness and disconnection with the climate movement,” said Kidus Tsige, a junior at Malden High School. “People […]