Mental health professionals have a term for the stress and grief many feel about the planet’s future: eco-anxiety. ⁠ ⁠ The American Psychiatric Association defines it as “chronic fear of environmental doom.” It can lead to anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.⁠ ⁠ Jo Huxster, assistant environmental studies professor who teaches a climate change communications class at Eckerd College, says almost every student in her class has eco-anxiety.⁠ ⁠ Huxster tells her students the best thing any individual can do is to talk about the climate crisis.⁠ ⁠ “Your own carbon footprint is very small,” Huxster says. “What’s most important about your actions is how they affect the actions of the people around you.”⁠ ⁠ Hear more from students in the class, and advice from a therapist on how to manage eco-anxiety, at the link in our bio. ⁠ ⁠ ✍️ : Rose Wong / Tampa Bay Times; 📷 : abaderphoto / special to the Times