Over 3,000 voices: Understanding how climate change shapes the minds and lives of young people in Australia

Young people are especially vulnerable to the mental health impacts of climate change. Yet the mechanisms linking climate change to mental health remain unclear. This study explored how climate change shapes the emotions, thoughts, and behaviours of young people from Australia, and the implications for wellbeing.Data were drawn from Mission Australia’s 2023 Youth Survey. Participants were asked to describe how climate change impacts their thinking, feelings, and behaviour. Free-text responses from 3,272 participants were analysed using inductive thematic analysis, with relational analysis identifying interconnected patterns across emotional, cognitive, and behavioural domains.Young people from Australia reported diverse responses to climate change, including feelings of anxiety, sadness, and hope; thoughts about future impacts, personal responsibility, and systemic failure; and behaviours ranging from pro-environmental actions to disengagement. Based on overlapping feelings, thinking, and behaviour, seven archetypes of response were identified: the Hopeless Helper, Nervous Navigator, Furious Fighter, Guilty Guardian, Wounded Witness, Detached Drifter, and Determined Doer.Findings highlight the complex and interconnected ways young people respond to climate change across emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. Archetypes provide a framework for understanding both risks and resilience, emphasising that distress often stems from systemic inaction. They underscore the need for nuanced measures, tailored interventions, and policies that systematically integrate climate and mental health.