Featured in the St. Albert Gazette · September 14, 2023
River’s Edge psychologist Sabrina Roach was recently featured in the St. Albert Gazette, speaking about how record-breaking wildfire smoke has taken a heavy mental toll on St. Albertans.
For many of Sabrina’s clients, the haze that periodically engulfs the city brings up more than just frustration. It surfaces disappointment about lost summer plans, a deeper sense of helplessness about climate change, and what she describes as eco-anxiety — a heightened state of concern about the environment.
“It usually comes up with younger generations,” Sabrina explains. “People feel they don’t want to have children or start a family because of the state of the environment. Others feel helpless in the face of worsening climate change or feel like they’re doing their part but not seeing changes. That sense of hopelessness deprives people of hope and excitement for the future, and it’s one piece that can lead to depression.”
“You can’t change the weather, so if you’re sitting in that lane, you’re expending all of this energy being anxious and upset over things you can’t change.”
Sabrina describes the shift she helps clients make as moving between three different lanes: things we can’t change, things we can change about how we respond, and things we can influence in a positive way — like recycling, avoiding single-use plastics, or making new traditions when old ones aren’t possible.
“Just recognizing that you’re doing what you can to help can bring up those feelings of self-acceptance and self-worth,” she says.
Read the full article in the St. Albert Gazette →
When the smoke gets in the way of your summer
If wildfire smoke or climate-related stress is weighing on you, a few small shifts can help:
- Notice which lane you’re in. When you catch yourself stewing about what you can’t change, gently move toward what you can — your attitude, your routines, your small actions.
- Build flexible plans. A new tradition with someone — coffee instead of camping, an indoor swim instead of the lake — can preserve connection when the original plan won’t work.
- Stay connected. Talking to someone who can help you explore recurring negative thoughts often eases the stress more than trying to think your way out of it alone.
- Make room for indoor joy. Activities that bring real enjoyment — even small ones — are protective for your mental health when outdoor life is restricted.
If eco-anxiety, climate stress, or persistent worry is showing up in your life, River’s Edge Counselling Centre offers individual counselling that meets you where you are.
Learn more about our Anxiety Counselling services.