Watts is not alone. A 2022 survey from the University of Bath estimates that astir 4.6% of radical successful the UK person clime anxiety, which is recognised arsenic a signifier of intelligence distress by nonrecreational bodies and the NHS. Young radical and women are among the groups astir astatine risk, according to a survey published successful 2025.
"Anticipatory anxiety", related to heatwaves successful particular, has go much common, accidental psychologists Dr Caroline Hickman from the University of Bath and Dr Emma Lawrance from the University of Oxford.
"Once radical person been done a traumatic lawsuit similar a flood oregon a heatwave, they expect the adjacent one," Hickman, who offers therapy to individuals experiencing clime anxiety, told the BBC.
In the UK, "now we're getting the repeat, repeat, repetition [heatwaves]. It triggers that consciousness that 'I can't beryllium harmless successful the world, and the satellite can't beryllium trusted'," she added.
In June's heatwave, Hickman said she "had radical saying they're going to termination themselves, I've had radical saying they're going to terminate pregnancies, I've had radical saying that they privation to merchantability their houses and determination determination cooler".
Watts said that her video "clearly struck a chord with people" - including therapists posting comments astir coping mechanisms - and that she wanted to assistance others woody with clime anxiety.
"It tin spell 1 of 2 ways. You tin either conscionable autumn into doomism and think, 'What is the point?'" she said.
"Or you tin effort to bash something. I motion petitions during a heatwave; I organise clime assemblage events; I tally a escaped children's apparel swap shop. During the past heatwave, I yet became vegetarian, due to the fact that past I tin archer my kids astatine slightest I tried."
English (US)·