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Eco-anxiety is affecting larger numbers of young people worldwide. Doctors in the UK have been advised to talk about climate change with their patients. Under new guidelines, a health consultation might now consist of a medical diagnosis, along with advice on how to reduce carbon footprints. It might also include help on how to live with eco-anxiety. A British newspaper cited critics of the guidelines who called them "seriously unethical". They said: "Doctors should spend their precious time treating patients rather than lecturing them on 'politicised issues'."
The United Nations said eco-anxiety was "an emergency crisis hidden in plain sight". Eco-anxiety is stress caused by the constant worry about the climate crisis. The UN said the condition will severely affect the mental health of children. Downtoearth.com wrote: "Extreme weather events like wildfires, heatwaves, droughts, storms, and floods lead to displacement and food shortages, causing psychological harm to humans." A UN survey found that 59 per cent of young people in a study were distressed about the climate. The youngsters felt anxious and guilty.
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