Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Background. Younger people are vulnerable to myriad harms associated with climate-related hazards, including to their psychological health. Amid increasing calls for evidence-based interventions to protect youth mental health in a changing climate, there is limited awareness of how young people are coping and what support they want. Methods. This qualitative co-produced study examined how young Australian residents - living in a country highly exposed to climate hazards - understand and respond psychologically and emotionally to climate change, how they adapt and cope, and what they believe is needed to support young people’s mental health in a changing climate. A Young Persons Advisory Group (YPAG) informed the aims, design and knowledge translation. Forty-five young people aged 18–24 years old and living in Australia participated in online focus groups, and data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results. Five themes were identified: 1) Climate change threatens “what matters most”; 2) Growing awareness of climate change and the realisation that it “isn't normal”; 3) Diverse psychological responses to climate change: “It was just so heartbreaking...it was such a tragedy”, 4) “Resources and strategies [young people use] to deal with the effects of climate change”; and 5) “The best support [that can be provided] to young people”. Conclusions. Young people called for upstream climate interventions to address the root cause of their climate-related distress and protect their mental health. Holistic climate education including disaster preparedness, opportunities to engage in collective climate action, and access to community spaces show promise in appropriately supporting young people.</p>