In a study published in Conservation Letters, researchers relied on psychology and public health studies to develop insights and techniques for coping with loss and applied them to ecological grief. They devised an approach known as “ecological grief literacy”
People experience ecological grief when they lose places, species or ecosystems they care deeply about. These losses pose an increasing danger to mental health and well-being worldwide.
News about worsening environmental conditions and climate change implications is making headlines all around the world. Environmental scientists, rangers, engineers, activists and policymakers are especially vulnerable to ecological grief because they have firsthand experience with environmental degradation.
In a study published in Conservation Letters, researchers relied on psychology and public health studies to develop insights and techniques for coping with loss and applied them to ecological grief. They devised an approach known as “ecological grief literacy”.
Grief literacy refers to the information, skills and values that can assist with loss and grief. When developing the notion of ecological grieving, they considered the distinctions between bereavement and environmental loss.
Bereavement often follows the loss of a loved one, which is a singular event. However, the timing and severity of environmental losses are inherently unknown. They are both ongoing and currently taking place.
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To better understand how to help those who are most vulnerable to experiencing ecological grief, researchers organised a workshop and shared knowledge on the science of emotion and stress. The session included a variety of activities and tools, allowing participants to choose what was most beneficial to them.
Having social support is essential to grieving healthily. Then, people feel taken care of and receive the assistance they most require. A large portion of this assistance is likely to come from family and friends in cases of losses like the death of a loved one.
However, ecological grief is not often acknowledged or understood in the community. The people who have worked with nature before are likely to be colleagues or peers who may offer helpful support.
Professionals in the environmental field can learn how to listen intently to colleagues who are grieving. Sensitively asking questions allows people to express themselves without fear of judgment or unwanted counsel.
If you are the one experiencing persistent ecological grief, it is critical to aim compassion both toward yourself and others. Priority must be given to relaxation and distractions.
Ecological grief is a natural and appropriate response to environmental loss. Making ecological grief literacy a part of everyday workplace health and safety would benefit not just the well-being of environmental professionals, but also their efforts to safeguard the species and ecosystems on which all of us rely.
(With inputs from agencies)