Eco-Anxious Stories

Program & Host Organization

Eco-Anxious Stories is a for-profit initiative created and led by Rachel Malena-Chan. The program uses narrative methods and storytelling to help people explore their climate emotions, reduce isolation, and connect their personal experiences to broader climate and justice-focused narratives.

Location & Scope

The initiative is based in Canada and operates across Saskatchewan. Workshops and events are delivered both in person at schools and community centres and online through Zoom, allowing participation from various regions.

Who It Serves

The program serves the general public, with a particular focus on youth and those who work with them, mental health professionals integrating climate perspectives into their practice, and artists or creators interested in sharing climate-related stories.

Climate & Mental Health Focus

Eco-Anxious Stories addresses eco-anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and the cultural silence surrounding climate emotions. It responds to the broader information environment, where difficult climate news and limited collective mental health supports leave many people processing distress alone.

Activities & Format

Workshops are typically 60 to 90 minutes and offered on demand or during quarterly home-grown events. Sessions take the form of sharing circles, writing workshops, creative collaborations, or educational experiences. Activities include reflective exercises, storytelling prompts, artistic expression, and facilitated dialogue in both hybrid and in-person formats. Participation may involve recurring groups or occasional attendees.

Inclusion & Accessibility

The program aims to keep resources and home-grown workshops free and encourages multiple forms of expression to accommodate different comfort levels. No additional accessibility information was provided.

Outcomes & Evidence

The initiative aims to help participants understand and befriend their climate emotions, gain skills in sharing climate stories, and foster meaningful connections. Medium-term goals include increased confidence expressing climate feelings, while long-term goals focus on crafting strategic and authentic climate narratives. The program is evaluated through workshop feedback and strategic planning. Its approach is informed by public narrative theory and environmental psychology.

Guiding Principles

Eco-Anxious Stories aligns with principles of climate literacy, emotional diversity, social connection, emotional resilience, climate justice, nature bonding, and collective responsibility. Story-based methods help participants contextualize emotions, build solidarity, and reimagine shared futures.

Resources & Sustainability

The program operates with an annual budget of approximately $30,000, supplemented by an estimated $20,000 in volunteer time. Activities are funded through contracts; no external grant funding has been secured.

Team & Partners

Workshops are designed and facilitated by Rachel Malena-Chan, with occasional partnerships for specific events. No additional team details were provided.

Challenges & Context

The initiative faces challenges common to independent climate-mental health work, including limited funding and difficulty reaching groups without established champions. Successful delivery relies on facilitated spaces where climate emotions can be explored collectively.