Eco-Anxiety in a Young Māori Patient
MMIMediumAnswer the question
Eco-Anxiety in a Young Māori Patient
A 17-year-old Māori patient presents to you in general practice with low mood, difficulty concentrating, and disturbed sleep. After ruling out depression, she tells you she is terrified about climate change, particularly what it means for her family's coastal marae and the food sources her whānau depends on. How do you respond clinically and as a person?
What is eco-anxiety, and is it a diagnosable mental health condition?
How does the specific loss of cultural and ancestral connection differ from general climate anxiety?
What resources or referrals might be useful for this patient?
Speak it out loud and we'll type it for you (free), or type your own notes — then mark yourself below.
- SPIKES for breaking bad news: Setting, Perception, Invitation, Knowledge, Empathy, Strategy.
- Listen → empathise → check understanding → agree a plan together. Calm voice, no jargon.
What strong answers doReveal the benchmark
Hidden so they don't bias your answer. Score yourself first, then reveal them to compare.
- Name eco-anxiety clearly and without minimising it: it is not a standalone DSM-5 diagnosis, but it is a recognised psychological response to climate change, particularly among young people and Indigenous communities whose identity and livelihood are tied to the natural world.
- For this patient the fear is tied to her marae, her whānau and mahinga kai, so it is layered grief for home, cultural identity and ancestral connection; acknowledge that explicitly rather than reaching for reassurance.
- Rule out depression, self-harm risk and functional impairment first, treat the sleep and concentration problems, then build agency by involving whānau, iwi kaitiakitanga work, youth climate groups and Māori health or school-based support, with follow-up arranged.
Mark yourself
Score each skill against the rubric, then add a line of evidence. Scale:
Empathy
0/3Validates eco-anxiety as a real, specific, culturally grounded experience without minimising or over-medicalising
Communication
0/3Distinguishes eco-anxiety from depression and responds to both layers
Cultural Safety
0/3Understands the specific significance of marae and mahinga kai as anchors of cultural identity
Healthcare Knowledge
0/3Accurate on eco-anxiety as a clinical entity and its management