Source: French to English Tester Published on: 2026-04-22
Source: The Conversation – in French– By Eve Pouliot, Associate Professor in Social Work, Head of the University Pedagogy Committee, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC)
As Outaouais faces new floods this spring, images of submerged houses and cut-off roads are multiplying. But behind these very visible scenes, another reality is taking shape: that of young people growing up in a context of repeated crises – and who bear the psychological and social traces of them.
Growing up in a series of crises
For many young people in Outaouais, so-called natural disasters are not isolated events. Floods in 2017, 2019, and 2023. Tornado in 2018. Then, the Covid-19 pandemic. In just a few years, these young people have been exposed to a succession of major upheavals, disrupting their daily lives, their landmarks, and their sense of security.
This accumulation is not accidental.
In astudy conducted in 2022Among more than 1,200 secondary school students in the region, we observed concerning levels of psychological distress. Nearly one third of the youth reported depressive symptoms or suicidal thoughts. One in four exhibited moderate to severe anxiety or thoughts of self-harm.
When the climate becomes a lived experience
These events do not only leave traces on mental health. They also change the way young people perceive climate change. Before experiencing a flood or a tornado, many describe the climate as an abstract concept. A topic discussed at school, sometimes difficult to connect to their reality.
Then the event occurs.
Rising water, sirens, evacuations: suddenly, climate change becomes concrete. Tangible. Personal.
“It made me realize what global warming is,” says a teenage girl.
The fact that these disasters occur near their homes plays a decisive role. They no longer concern only “others” or distant countries. They can happen here, now.
Fear, anxiety… and hypervigilance
This awareness is sometimes accompanied by intense emotions.
Several young people mention a lasting feeling of insecurity.
Some develop a form of hypervigilance: the sound of the wind, heavy rain, or rising waters become sources of concern. Others speak of a more diffuse anxiety, focused on the future: what does the world of tomorrow hold for them?
These eco-emotions, increasingly documented, are not necessarily abnormal. They can, on the contrary, reflect a clear awareness of the ongoing transformations. But they do not always lead to the same reactions.
Also to read:
Eco-emotions: recognizing and understanding them to better live with climate change
Four ways to respond to the climate crisis
Contrary to the idea of a homogeneous and uniformly mobilized youth,our qualitative studyconducted among about thirty young people reveals that they adopt very varied attitudes towards climate change.
Four profiles emerge.
The activists see these events as a wake-up call. Worried, but convinced that it is possible to take action, they change their habits and get involved, individually or collectively.
The powerless share this concern but feel helpless. Disasters appear uncontrollable to them, which fuels a feeling of resignation.
The confident, often exposed to repeated events, consider themselves to have learned to cope. They know how to react, prepare, and adapt.
Finally, the disengaged feel little concern, establishing few links between experienced events and climate changes.
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Worry is not enough to mobilize
A fact is clear: it is not only the level of concern that determines engagement, but the feeling of being able to act.
Engaged young people believe that their actions – even modest ones – can make a difference. This conviction allows them to turn their worry into a driver for action. Conversely, those who feel powerless perceive the situation as beyond their control. In this case, anxiety tends to turn into discouragement.
This gap is crucial. It shows that raising awareness about climate change is not enough: it is also necessary to provide concrete levers for action.
Also to read:
Moving beyond small gestures: the school must give young people the means to get involved
The key role of communities and schools
Collective experiences play a determining role here. In some communities repeatedly affected by flooding, dynamics of mutual aid emerge. Seeing neighbors organize, participate in concrete actions, and share adaptation strategies strengthens the sense of efficacy.
Schools are also a central lever. They are not only places for the transmission of knowledge but also spaces where young people can discuss, understand, and get involved.
It is still necessary for these spaces to open up avenues for action, rather than just sticking to alarming observations. Without prospects for action, education on climate change risks fueling anxiety rather than supporting engagement.
Better support a generation exposed to disasters
The current floods in Outaouais remind us that these events are no longer exceptional. They are part of a reality expected to repeat itself. In this context, it becomes essential to better support young people.
First, by recognizing that they are not mere victims, but actors capable of understanding and acting.
Then, by providing support tailored to their reality. The results ofour worksclearly show that young people exposed to a combination of disasters are more vulnerable in terms of mental health. Targeted interventions, in schools and communities, appear necessary.
Finally, by strengthening their ability to act. Because beyond information, it is the capacity to envision solutions that makes the difference.
Beyond disasters, an issue for society
So-called natural disasters leave visible traces. But their most lasting effects are often invisible. They manifest in the anxiety of a teenager facing a storm, in the feeling of helplessness of a teenage girl facing the future, or conversely in the commitment of another who decides to take action.
Understanding this diversity of reactions is essential. Because in the face of climate change, the challenge is not only environmental. It is also social, educational, and psychological.
And, above all, it directly concerns those who will have to live the longest with its consequences.
Eve Pouliot received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the Quebec Intersectoral Flood Network (RIISQ)
–ref. Floods in Outaouais: a generation under pressure facing repeated crises –https://theconversation.com/floods-in-outaouais-a-generation-under-pressure-in-the-face-of-repeated-crises-277708