Kids’ mental health depends on a healthy climate
As a mental health clinician, I strongly oppose the Trump administration’s decision to repeal the EPA’s Endangerment Finding.
Rolling back regulations that limit fossil fuel combustion will only accelerate the environmental changes we see due to climate change. Around the country and here in New Hampshire, we’re impacted by: dangerously high temperatures, forest fire smoke, disastrous flooding and sea-level rise.
NH Healthy Climate conducted a 2024 survey of state health care workers, and it revealed that 63% said climate change is already affecting patients’ mental health in our state, and 80% said they expect mental health to get much worse in 10 to 20 years without action. I’m afraid that repealing the Endangerment Finding isn’t inaction, it is regression.
In my view, our government should defend policies that protect public health and address root causes of anxiety, depression, and trauma — not repeal them.