Almost One Million Canadians Have Climate Anxiety, Experts Claim “Healthcare System Not Ready For It”
The climate crisis and the government’s response to it are stressful to Canadians
A new study estimates that almost one million Canadians suffer from serious anxiety around climate change. Doctors say that for chronic, climate-related anxiety and stress, alternative therapies, such as clinical-grade brain stimulation, could be better than drug prescriptions.
Oct 28, 2025. A new study of more than 2,400 Canadians, published in Nature Mental Health, estimates that 2.35% of the population, or nearly one million people, experience climate change anxiety severe enough to disrupt sleep, impair concentration, and cause significant emotional distress.
From recent flooding in Vancouver to earlier heat waves in British Columbia and wildfires in Manitoba, climate change continues to take a toll on Canadians’ psychological well-being.
Experts from Flow Neuroscience, a company that develops medical neuromodulation devices, warn that this type of chronic, real-world stress doesn’t fit standard models of mental health care, and there’s a need to adapt to the new reality with modern mental health care solutions.
“Environmental disasters have left many Canadians with health problems, financial losses, and, in some cases, the need to find new homes after theirs were destroyed. This turmoil undermines people’s sense of safety, causing anxiety and multi-level emotional stress,” says Dr. Hannah Nearney, MD, UK Medical Director at Flow Neuroscience.
Indigenous people, younger individuals like Generation Y and Z, and women have the highest rates of climate anxiety, according to the study.
Experts claim that many of these individuals fall through the cracks of traditional mental health systems.
“Climate anxiety doesn’t follow the model of acute crisis care,” says Dr. Nearney. “You can’t medicate climate concerns away, but when it causes constant background emotional stress and anxiety, it starts to affect daily life.”
Dr. Kultar Singh Garcha, MD, Global Medical Director at Flow Neuroscience, added that many patients experiencing this kind of anxiety are left unsupported.
“These are people who show up, saying they don’t feel right. But because they’re not in crisis, they’re told to wait, manage it alone, or receive medication that may not address the root issue,” he said.
Experts are turning to long-term strategies instead, especially ones that reflect how younger generations live and seek care. Walking therapy, for example, has shown early promise in clinical trials, especially among male patients. Other options include AI-based therapy, telehealth services, and neuromodulation, all of which offer accessibility and personalization.
“Brain stimulation can become a regular mental well-being practice, like going for a morning run or meditating before bed,” says Dr. Nearney. “It’s not about crisis response, it’s about consistency.”
One such method is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive technology approved in the UK, Australia, and Europe for treating depression. It’s now being explored for chronic stress and sleep issues, the two areas where climate anxiety often manifests. Flow Neuroscience has developed a CE-certified, NHS- and TGA-approved tDCS device, currently prescribed in several countries.
“As climate stress becomes a daily reality, we’ll see more people seeking help, especially younger adults and other vulnerable groups,” adds Dr. Nearney. “They’re not asking for medication. They’re asking for other options that can empower them to manage.”
About Flow Neuroscience
Flow Neuroscience is a healthcare company that focuses on tDCS therapies and devices. In 2016, it was co-founded in Sweden by Daniel Mansson, a clinical psychologist, and Erik Rehn, an engineer. Erin Lee joined as CEO in 2022, having previously worked at Google, Uber, and Babylon, and the company is now based in the UK. Flow is the only at-home medical tDCS device with clinically proven effectiveness in treating depression. It is not only used by the National Health Service (NHS), but also available and has passed regulations in Europe, Norway, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.
