As part of our ongoing content, we feature authors who have published in Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry.

Today, we are excited to bring you our interview with Émilie Tremblay and Sandra Harrisson!

What is your article “Bridging Perspectives: Young Activists’ Stories and Intergenerational Dialogue on Mental Health and Climate Change in Canada” about?

The article, part of Émilie’s doctoral thesis, examines the emotional impact of climate change on young adults, particularly environmental activists, through an ecofeminist lens. By highlighting the links between systemic oppression and the environmental crisis, the study deepens understanding of the social and emotional dynamics that shape social engagement. Its two-part analysis, which involves young activist adults creating digital stories, followed by an intergenerational focus group with non-activist individuals, identifies key themes such as climate-related experiences and emotions, intergenerational injustice, and collective hope.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your research interests.

Émilie is a registered nurse and a dedicated member of the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE). She serves on the Policy Development Committee and is currently the President. She completed her PhD at the University of Ottawa in 2026 and is pursuing postdoctoral studies at Queen’s University. Her research interests include critical theory, ecofeminism, planetary health, and climate-related experiences and emotions.

Sandra is a registered nurse and an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa. Her research program focuses on mental health, aging, collaborative research, the history of health, and feminist critical theory. She has developed expertise in implementing and transforming practices—particularly in community, care, and home settings—thereby contributing to sustainable organizational change. She co-created the Pleasurable Moment Enhancing Approach, which promotes well-being among older adults and their families, strengthens professional competencies, and fosters a strong sense of teamwork.

What drew you to this project?

Émilie’s interest in this subject was sparked by her high school education, which introduced her to the potential repercussions of global warming. She felt worried and fearful about the future. These feelings have always accompanied her, intensifying year after year as the ecological crisis worsened. Her motivation to get involved in this cause is mainly driven by her studies and her professional experience as a nurse. This background has helped her understand the connection between environmental health and human health. She realized that if we do not change how we function as a society, the negative impacts of environmental degradation on human health will only worsen. Additionally, her motivation stems from the urgent awareness that human activities worsen the degradation of our planet, thereby accelerating global warming.

Sandra’s interest in this subject stemmed from Émilie’s enthusiasm and passion for her doctoral topic. It also stemmed from her own history of environmental activism during her adolescence and young adulthood. While her stance on preserving natural resources has not changed, Sandra’s engagement has evolved over the years toward more personal forms of action. She saw herself reflected in Émilie. This project sparked several meaningful

discussions between them, particularly about how young adults perceive previous generations in relation to environmental degradation—often feeling that too little was done to protect the planet. These reflections ultimately led to the inclusion of a focus group with participants from various age groups.

What was one of the most interesting findings?

In the literature, environmental activism is generally recognized for its benefits to mental health, mitigating the psychological impacts of climate change. However, the young adult activists in this study also emphasized that their increased engagement sometimes intensified their climate-related emotions, such as worry, feelings of inadequacy, or distress, rather than alleviating them. Although the activist identity allows them to define themselves and give meaning to their involvement, the urgency of the situation and the constant pressure to act sometimes lead them to feel responsible for compensating for others’ inaction, thus taking on the burden of fighting climate change. This can generate intense emotions and may lead to burnout. It then becomes essential to consider emotional support strategies within activist communities, as well as a more equitable distribution of responsibilities in facing the climate crisis. These approaches could help preserve the mental health of younger generations while strengthening the sustainability of their engagement, which is crucial in the fight against climate change.

What are you reading, listening to, and/or watching right now?

Émilie is currently reading The Silence in Between by Josie Ferguson, a work of historical fiction that follows a family’s experience when the Berlin Wall border closes overnight. She is drawn to novels like this because they offer insight into how major global events of the past continue to shape contemporary society. In particular, the story highlights the ideological divide between the two sides of Berlin: West Berlin, capitalist and democratic, influenced by the United States, Great Britain, and France; and East Berlin, communist, influenced by the Soviet Union.

Sandra is currently reading The Production of Space (1991) by Henri Lefebvre, which allows her to question spaces shaped by the social production of superstructures. According to the author, the dialectic of space unfolds in three dimensions: (1) the perception of space, which frames daily routines and the use of space (places and practices); (2) the representation of space through signs, codes, and formal rules (official discourses); and (3) the lived experience of space (its practical enactment). This framework enables Sandra to adopt a critical perspective on how different spaces and interspaces shape the transmission of dominant discourses and their influence, or lack thereof, on individuals across various contexts, including environmental preservation.

If there was one takeaway or action point you hope people will get from your work, what would it be?

Climate-related responses, including personal experiences (behaviours, thoughts, and reactions) and emotions (perceptions and feelings), should not be suppressed or avoided, as they are normal adaptive responses to the threat of climate change. It is imperative that health professionals understand these responses to better support individuals in their care who are experiencing them, helping them acknowledge these emotional reactions, as this can strengthen emotional resilience and encourage mutually beneficial actions that support both mental health and the environment.