Mental Wellbeing

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Is Saving the Planet, One Dance Step at a Time

Image by the USGS EROS Data Center Satellite Systems Branch, as part of the Earth as Art II image series.

Image by the USGS EROS Data Center Satellite Systems Branch, as part of the Earth as Art II image series.

"Jason Sudeikis, Roy Wood Jr., Amber Tamblyn, Wyatt Cenac, and a frisky Hula-Hoop artist take the terror out of climate activism at the Brooklyn Museum."

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is harnessing the power of the arts and humor to reframe how we engage people in conversations about Earth’s environmental crisis, especially in a time when many feel powerless to make a difference on a global scale.

A scoping-review by the NIH highlights the growing number of children who are increasingly aware of the looming threat of environmental disaster and are experiencing heightened psychological distress, anger, or despair in a phenomenon now referred to as “eco-anxiety”. 

Dr. Johnson and others are advocating for a more balanced approach–one that maintains the urgency these environmental issues without overwhelming people emotionally, ensuring they remain motivated and engaged in seeking solutions.

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