7 Charities That Support Black Mental Health

Organizations who support mental health do some incredible work not only to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, but also to provide resources for those who need it. The Black community has continuously been targeted by systemic racism and trauma, which are negative contributors to mental health. And Black mental health organizations are providing focused, thoughtful resources for community members. Support for mental health = everything!

We want to highlight organizations who are actively working for the Black community and providing the mental health resources that are needed. Here is a special shout-out to a few amazing charities that support Black mental health:

1. Black Health Alliance

Black Health Alliance is a charity that actively addresses key issues within the Black communities of Canada through fundraising, research and public policy, and capacity building. Their main areas of focus are social determinants of health, health inequities, anti-Black racism, and building connected communities. The goal of the Black Health Alliance is to improve the health and well-being of Black communities in Canada by making lasting, impactful changes!

2. Black Women’s Health Imperative

For 38 years, Black Women’s Health Imperative has done amazing work to address health issues affecting Black women and girls in the U.S. This organization delivers incredible programs and advocates health-promoting policies to improve overall health and wellness for women of the Black community. They’re important advocates for both mental health awareness and affordable health care rates.

3. Therapy for Black Men

Therapy For Black Men is an organization that offers exactly what it says: mental health resources for Black men! These resources include therapy, coaching and articles. The articles are published by experts who are specially equipped to work with men in the Black community who deal with unique challenges and stigmatization in society.

4. Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective

From advocates to psychologists, therapists to lawyers, religious leaders to teachers, the Black Emotional And Mental Health Collective is a dynamic group of people who are committed to promoting emotional and mental health in the Black community. Their vision is a “world with no barriers to Black healing” through education, training, advocacy and even the creative arts!

5. Black Minds Matter UK

Black Minds Matter UK’s mission is to “connect Black individuals and families with free mental health services — by professional Black therapists to support their mental health.” Amazingly enough, this charitable organization provides 12 weeks of therapy for members of the Black community in the UK to make mental health resources more accessible!

6. Therapy for Black Girls

Connecting women and girls within the Black community to therapists, and promoting mental wellness, is what Therapy For Black Girls is all about! Their online community includes a directory to help find a therapist, provides mental health resources and opens the conversation around therapy to reduce stigma.

7. The Trevor Project

Founded in 1998, The Trevor Project is considered “the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.” Part of their mission as a crisis counseling organization is to support and uplift the mental health of Black queer youth across the United States. Amazing!

It’s important to recognize the hard work so many mental health charities are doing for the mental wellbeing of Black communities. We’ve only listed a handful of organizations but there are many more. If you’re able to donate or get involved with any Black mental health organizations listed above or the local ones in your area, we highly encourage it.

 

Introducing Your Kids to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

40 years ago, the typical image of a nuclear family was a wife, a husband, and two kids. But over the last few decades, that has thankfully changed! There can be 2 dads, 2 moms, 3 dads, 3 moms, 2 dads and one mom, or parents who go by a different name because they don’t identify with a binary gender. The possibilities are endless! 

If you’re reading this article, you probably want to teach your kids to be accepting of all family dynamics and want to make sure that they respect a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity. That’s amazing! Thank you for being such a great parent and choosing to raise your kid with a mind open to allll kinds of love and allll kinds of people.

So how do you reinforce the idea that non-heteronormative family structures are cool and totally normal? You start early and you do it one day at a time! 

We’ve put together a little guide to help you along the way! (You didn’t think we were gonna let you do this all alone, did you??) It’s broken down into age groups and it has some pretty wicked resources. **humble brag** Ahem. So, let’s dive thru it!

Ages 0-8

It’s sooooo important to be showing your kids Queer representation from day 1! There can be a lot of heteronormative portrayals out there in the world, and they can really impact how your child perceives Queer relationships. Despite your best efforts to reinforce that Queer love and relationships are awesome, the media they consume might tell them otherwise.

So how do you start teaching your kids about non-heterosexual sexual orientation and gender identity in age-friendly ways?

DiveThru Recommended Videos

Don’t fear! There’s a ton of fantastic content on the internet to help you teach your kids about everything Queer! One of our favourite resources is a YouTube channel called Queer Kid Stuff. We’ve mentioned it in one of our other articles, but we really do love it as a resource for parents!

This channel talks about everything Queer related in age-appropriate and kid-friendly ways. Some of our favourite videos are What Does Gay Mean?, LGBT Representation in Kids Media, Pronouns, and their Pride Month Celebrations! 

If you’re looking to spend some time in front of a screen, we totally recommend that you put on one of their videos and hang out with the fam!

DiveThru Recommended Books

DiveThru started out as a journaling app, so you know that we are big advocates for reading and writing! That’s why we think that reading books to your kids that have positive Queer representation is so important.

Reading books is one of the first things that you do with your child, and we love the idea of incorporating books that represent people and kids of all gender identities and sexual orientations!

Here are some of our favourites:

I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel

Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community by Robin Stevenson

Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, Illustrated by Henry Cole

Sparkle Boy by Leslie Newman

Ages 9-14

Insults and name-calling really start to become a thing for kids in this age range. It’s important to teach them that it’s not ok to refer to someone or something as gay in a derogatory or insulting way.

 You need to talk about why insults regarding sexual orientation and gender identity aren’t ok, and make sure to educate your kid on the history of the Queer Community. Teach them about the Stonewall Riots and how Queer people were shunned and persecuted by the police just for existing. There were frequent raids of clubs and bars, and Queer people were treated brutally by law enforcement. Being gay was also seen as a mental disorder and something that was worthy of being hospitalized.

Ya, it’s dark shit, but it’s important that they understand the history of their words and that there is a significant amount of hurt behind them.

DiveThru Recommended Books:

Annnnd we’re back again to talk about books! Many of us were avid YA novel fans (the best genre ever in our opinion), so why not help your kids find YA books they’ll love that also have Queer representation!

Here is a list from theconversation.com of 5 happy and uplifting YA books that have Queer representation in them:

Euphoria Kids by Alison Evans

The Disasters by M.K. England

The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burgers in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

Ages 15-18

We’re gonna be honest and a bit blunt (why else would you come to us if not for blunt honesty?). This is the age where kids are going to become more sexually active, or at least think about it, and might begin to have some questions about how the specifics of Queer sex works.

If you don’t feel totally comfortable talking to your kid about this, that’s ok! It was probably hella awkward for you to talk about the birds and the bees with your parents too. But it’s important to at least show your kids that you’re happy to support them learning about safe and consensual sex with a partner of any gender!

If you want to do some research on your own, that’s awesome! Look up things like how does gay sex work? orhow do lesbians have sex? You don’t have to know everything about it, but it’s good to understand some of the basics so that you can support your Queer kiddo or at least point them in the right direction if they have any questions.

But realistically, your kid has access to the internet, so they’ll be able to answer a lot of their own questions just by looking them up.

These kinds of conversations are soooo uncomfortable, but if you create a sex-positive and educational environment for your kid, they’re going to be a lot more comfortable coming to you when they face any problems or have questions.

DiveThru Tips

This is a great age to start introducing them to documentaries like Paris Is Burning or The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. These are two phenomenal documentaries that talk about Queer life, and history, in really impactful and meaningful ways. These docs show the plight of Queer people and how they’ve had to fight tirelessly for basic human rights.

Encourage your kids to join clubs and groups that promote equality and queerness. Take them to events like Drag Bingo or even a Drag show! Let them read books by Queer authors, take them to Pride Parades, and let them experience as many different facets of the Queer Community in order to understand the group as a whole as much as possible.

You’ll Do Great!

We know that it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to teaching kids about the Queer Community, sexual orientation and gender identity — but we believe in you! We know that you’re already doing a fantastic job as a parent because you’re reading this article.

There are many more resources out there for each age group, so if you have any suggestions on other educational material that we can include, please let us know! We’ll go back and add it in so that more parents and kids have access to a bunch of different and fantastic educational materials.

 

 

‘Why Am I Getting Ghosted?’ Here Are Some Theories

Ahhhh dating. Isn’t it a fun time? Just kidding. It can feel like playing the lottery every day and not even winning $25 to cover the cost of the tickets. 

What’s even worse is when you feel like you’re getting somewhere with a person and then POOF! Ghosted! Out of nowhere!

If you’re reading this article then we assume that you’ve probably been ghosted. Sorry to hear that, friend. We’ve all been there. The DiveThru team member writing this blog has umm… some pretty fucking sad first-hand experience with being ghosted. She kept her Skype open for 5 HOURS one time waiting to talk to a boy who said he’d call but never did. DEVASTATING. So uhhh, ya. We definitely get it. Getting ghosted is never on the daily to-do list, and — like every victim of a supernatural occurrence such as this — we don’t know why it happened and can only guess as to why this person has left you on read. 

Let’s theorize together, shall we?

Option 1: They Suck

If they’re anything like the boy who didn’t call back our writer, they probably suck (she’s CLEARLY not bitter about it since she keeps bringing it up). You seem like a really awesome person and your ghoster probably didn’t deserve to hang out with you anyway. We won’t ghost you. Promise!

 

Option 2: They Don’t Suck and Are Just Going Through Something

When people go through some tough shit, they can sometimes ghost a person because they just don’t have the emotional capacity to explore a relationship. They might not want to talk about their feelings or life with anyone, and the best way they can deal with the situation is by shutting down. Sometimes, people get too overwhelmed to communicate, and ignoring everyone and everything is just how they cope.

It can be really hard trying to balance a new person’s feelings AND an emotional crisis at the same time! It’s a lot to mentally and emotionally take on, so if this is the case, give them a little slack. They’re probably going through a lot.

Option 3: They’re a Player

‘Cause you know I love the players, and you love the game!

So, this clearly wasn’t forever and it went down in flames a bit, hey? Some people might just like the chase. They love the thrill of meeting someone new and the intense attraction that comes with it. But once that attraction dwindles a bit or they find someone new to fancy, they ghost the first person and focus their efforts on the new one. 

 

Do they even care how getting ghosted feels?! It can really hurt when you feel like you’ve been used! It’s not an easy feeling to process, or even get over, so be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to feel the way you need to.

Option 4: Intimacy

Some people just can’t handle intimacy. Maybe they wanted a super casual thing but you might’ve wanted more? Getting to know someone on a deeper level can be some intense stuff, so they might not have been ready for that.

They also might not like when people get to know them in a romantic way, either. They might have gone through some stuff in the past that really hurt them and aren’t totally over that trauma.  The only way they know to protect themselves is by keeping people at an arm’s length.

Option 5: They Don’t Want to Hurt Your Feelings

Sometimes ghosters don’t know how to easily let down a ghostee. The best way they know how to deal with it is just by not replying anymore. 

It’s kind of the easy way out for them…but not you. You’re left with soooo many questions and zero closure about the situation. But sadly, they might just not know how to honestly and kindly communicate their feelings.

Option 6: They Don’t Want Anything Serious

Unfortunately, some people like to disappear if there is even a whiff of commitment in the air. “Making it official? No thanks!” Then they turn to dust and float away with the wind. 

It can be frustrating because you didn’t even get the chance to communicate your thoughts and feelings about commitment to them. They might’ve just made an assumption and got scared.

 

 

We obviously can’t totally understand why someone might have ghosted you because we are just some words on the internet at the moment. But we hope that this allowed you to commiserate and maybe guess as to why someone might have ghosted you.

Like we said, you seem REALLY COOL! So, come back and talk to us again sometime. Neither of us will ghost the other. DEAL? Deal!

 

10 Ways to Process Climate Grief When It Shows Up

When you think of grief, what usually comes to mind? For us, it’s alllllll of the pain and the emotions that come with experiencing a huge loss. And for those who have had to face losing a loved one in the past, this may seem like a very familiar feeling. We’re glad you’re here. It’s important to recognize that we all handle grief differently and move through the process at our own pace. But it’s also important to note that we can grieve many different things…especially the things that have an impact on our lives. Like the environment, for instance! It’s called climate grief and yes, it’s becoming a real concern.

What Is Climate Grief?

We experience ecological grief when we take notice of, or fear, the negative effects on our planet due to climate change. This can include loss of species, ecosystems and the anticipation of natural disasters. If you’ve ever felt pain at the extinction of a rare animal or the clearcutting of trees in a historical park, then you’ve definitely experienced climate grief before!

It’s becoming more common as our society starts to take notice of the crisis we’re facing. More people are becoming conscious of their environmental impact and are making efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. But, with this awareness has come an overwhelming sense of eco-grief. And because it’s still very new to the conversation of mental health you might not know how to process it.

A report published by the American Psychological Association explains that “the ability to process information and make decisions without being disabled by extreme emotional responses is threatened by climate change.” Sooo yeah, the emotional trauma and distress so many of us are experiencing from the effects of climate change are very real and totally valid.

How To Deal With Climate Grief
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

10 Ways to Process Climate Grief

Grieving a loss can be challenging, especially when it’s something as massive as the whole planet! You might feel like no one else understands your feelings, but we promise that you’re not alone. So many others have the same fears you do! They grieve when another landscape is lost, another species becomes extinct, or another natural disaster hits.

You might be wondering: How will I ever process climate grief, especially when it seems like there’s more to grieve everyday?! It’s hard, we know. But, here are some ways you can deal without it consuming your overall wellbeing:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings

Obviously, nobody LIKES to feel emotional pain. If we could, we’d probably turn off all negative emotions like a switch so that all of the hurt can never affect us again! Buuut that’s not reality, unfortunately.

Take the time to let yourself feel the clusterfuck of emotions you’re going through right now. You might be feeling sad, angry, scared, hopeless, or all of the above! And that’s okay. Remind yourself that your feelings are valid. Repressing these emotions will only weigh you down! Instead, tell yourself: I feel ___ because ___ and that’s okay. I’m allowed to feel how I feel. It’s a simple act but validating your emotions is the first step to navigating them — trust us!

2. Look at What You CAN Change

Watching natural disasters or large spills on the news might make you feel discouraged. Maybe even like your efforts are meaningless? Sure, you’re a recycling advocate and you bike to work instead of drive. But what’s the point when apparently one hundred energy companies are actually responsible for 71% of all industrial emissions?! You’re only one person…how can you make a real difference to combat climate change?

First of all, don’t beat yourself up or believe your actions aren’t ever enough. They absolutely are! The choices you make every day add up, no matter how small they might seem. Take notice of all the good you already do and look at areas where you can improve. It will help you regain that sense of control you might be missing right now.

3. Then Accept What You CAN’T Change

In a perfect world, we’d be able to save every endangered animal and ecosystem. Unfortunately, for every win we find, there are still gonna be some losses. We just can’t do it all! Even though your efforts do make a big difference, there’s still a lot that is ultimately out of your hands. It’s a realization that may be hard to accept, we know. But accepting some environmental loss comes with accepting what you cannot change. It can weigh heavy on your shoulders, but remember — you are still doing your part. And the fact that you care so much is a really POWERFUL thing!

4. Know That You’re Not Alone

Does it sometimes feel like you’re the only one who cares this much about the loss of the environment? You’re not alone, we promise! There are millions of people out there who also are incredibly passionate about our planet, even if they’re not in your immediate circle. If you don’t have anyone in your personal life who you can relate to, it’s not a bad idea to reach out to some like-minded people who feel the same way you do. Which brings us to the next point:

5. Get Involved With Like-Minded People

Climate grief can be a really personal thing to navigate, but teaming up with like-minded people can do wonders for your grieving process! Try volunteering in your community. Join an environmental club, or start your own. Set up an online group to talk about your feelings and ideas about climate change. Making new friends and connections who share your values can help you process all of the shitty emotions you’re dealing with and help you feel a little more hopeful about the future.

6. Use Your Support System

Finding a support system to vent your feelings to is super important! We don’t want you to bottle everything up inside (unless it’s a reusable bottle! HA) to the point where you feel like you might combust. It’s not so great for your mental, or overall, wellbeing. So lean on those like-minded people and find a safe space to share your feelings. Being there for other people and having them be there for you in return is a 10/10 great way to cope with climate grief. We’re alllll in this together!

7. Enjoy Spending Time in Nature

The internet can be a great place for connection. But when you’re exposed to one climate disaster after the next, and the loss of beautiful species and landscapes, it can actually make you feel super disconnected. Is there any beauty left in this world?!

We promise there is. Instead of doomscrolling about the latest in climate news, try logging off and going out to explore! Go hiking or kayaking or cycling. Swim in a lake, lay on a beach, ski a mountain…whatever you want! No matter where you live or what your budget is, take some time to absorb and appreciate the nature that still surrounds you. So get outside, friend!

8. Channel Your Creativity

Channeling your grief into a creative outlet is a really healthy coping strategy. And the good news is — there are endless ways to get creative! If you’re a words person, try blogging, poetry or writing stories. Love art? Then try painting, sketching, or sculpting! If you’re into music, play an instrument, sing or write your own songs. 

Use these creative activities to explore your eco-grief and, if you feel comfortable, share your work with others! It might inspire them and open up more conversations about the environment and the universal climate grief so many of us are going through. Plus, getting creative is just really fun! So there’s that.

9. Practice Self-Care

It’s more than okay to take time for yourself and practice some much needed self-care. It’s also okay to say no to things that don’t align with your environmental values, or set boundaries with people who aren’t understanding of your feelings. 

Self-care can look like so many things! It’s not just going for walks, lighting candles or doing a face mask (but we 100% love those options too!). It’s also about looking after your mental and emotional wellbeing, whatever that looks like for you. Take breaks when you need to and show yourself some love! You deserve it.

10. Grief Therapy Is a Valid Option

Talking about grief in therapy isn’t reserved only for breakups or the loss of loved ones. Your climate grief is also important and deserves attention! Speaking to a therapist about your feelings of grief, trauma and anxiety over the loss of the environment can be really helpful. Your therapist will help you navigate your thoughts and feelings in a safe space where you can feel heard and understood. It also doesn’t hurt to ask for recommendations to find a therapist who specializes in grief, or even eco-grief specifically! If there’s no one in your area, see if there are online options available.

We hope these tips help you process your climate grief and make you feel less alone. And we just wanna add that we’re sooo proud of you for recognizing your feelings and looking for ways to cope with environmental grief! ‘Cause your feelings matter, always.

 

How to Start Talking About Climate Change

So you’ve been educating yourself on climate change and doing tons and tons of research on the best ways to help save our planet. Recycling, composting, thrifting and eliminating single use plastics from your life are just the tip of the iceberg! You now consider yourself to be an environmental activist who’s ready to do what it takes to make this world a better place — and you know that means that you want to start talking about climate change with others. You want to get the people in your life aware and onboard with this SUPER important cause. Buuut sometimes it’s easier said than done! How do you even go about sharing all of your climate change knowledge with your family and friends? What if they dismiss your ideas or don’t seem interested in what you have to say? How do you inspire them to make their own lifestyle changes without sounding, well…super aggressive and preachy?!

First of all, can we just say how ahh-mazing you are?! We think it’s so inspiring that you’re making a conscious effort to reduce your carbon footprint. Every small change makes a huge difference in the long run, so keep up the good work! We’re so proud of you! NOW…here are some tips to help you get your climate conversations going.

How to Open a Conversation About Climate Change

When you start talking about climate change with your loved ones it can feel really intimidating. While it’s something you need to get off your chest, the anxiety around how and when to start the conversation can be a lot. You don’t wanna seem too intense or turn them off from the subject forever. Or worse, potentially ruin any of your relationships because of a major disagreement.

But the good news is — most people tend to be more open to new ideas when it’s presented to them by someone they know. Sooo, you do have an advantage here! As long as you go about it the right way, you have a really good shot at opening their minds on this topic. We’ve got some tips for you and we’re hoping they’ll make the initiation of this tough conversation way easier (and more likely to be successful):

1. Set the Tone

Whenever you approach a touchy subject, the last thing you wanna do is come across super aggressive and mean. It’s awesome that you’re so invested in saving the planet! While your dedication and commitment can shine through, make sure the overall tone of the conversation is neutral and free of judgment. We’re looking for healthy communication here. Bring up the conversation in an open-minded way: Hey, I’ve been learning a lot about the environment and would love to try talking about climate change with you — if you’re up for it! This approach highlights that you want to share your interest without being a preachy know-it-all.

2. Hear Them Out

During this conversation, try to listen and understand their point of view. Chances are, they probably have their own preconceived notions about the topic of climate change that are different from yours. Keep in mind that while you’ve been researching and developing a better understanding of climate change, they might not be as informed yet. That’s why you’re bringing it up in the first place, right? To drop some truth bombs! But ask about how they came to their conclusions so they feel heard: What makes you feel that way about it? I want to understand where you’re coming from.

3. Acknowledge Their Feelings

Topics like climate change can be kinda polarizing. Your friends and family might have opinions that differ from yours, but that’s okay! The point here isn’t to have them completely agree with all of your ideas. Maybe you’ve adopted a vegan lifestyle because you have researched the impact of the meat industry on climate change. But that type of change isn’t realistic or sustainable for everyone! They might think that you will judge them or expect them to do too much in order to be a good climate activist. Instead, acknowledge their feelings about it: I can understand why you’re hesitant to talk about this, but I’m not here to judge you! Your feelings are valid.

4. Ask Questions

To make the conversation less one-sided or lecture-like, ask questions about their views and what they think. Don’t assume you know the reasons behind their opinions on the subject. If you really want a healthy conversation on the topic, show interest in understanding their perspective and how they’ve come to their conclusions about climate change. Making sure they feel involved in the conversation shows you respect their opinions, even if you’re not entirely on the same page: What are your thoughts on climate change and activism? What can we do about climate change? Why do you think that?

5. Share Your Side

This topic clearly means a lot to you, which is why you’ve decided to bring it up with the people in your life. Hey, that’s great! Your family and friends love you, so they’re gonna be more receptive to your ideas than you might think. Explain to them why talking about climate change, and climate activism, is so important to you. Maybe you’re super outdoorsy and love spending time in nature, and the thought of our planet suffering is making you suffer. Or your house is covered in plants because anything green (even a tiny forest) makes you so damn happy. Or maybe your compassion for animals knows no bounds and you want to advocate for their rights. It could be that you’ve just always had an interest in the environment but the effects of climate change have pushed you more into the activism space. So share your thoughts and feelings about it! It will show them how much this subject means to you and how important it is to hear you out.

6. Know How to Present the Facts

When you’re talking about climate change with people who aren’t so passionate about it, you might hear a lot of questions like this: Why do you care so much? Isn’t it kinda too late to do anything about it now? How do you know that what you’re doing will help anyway?

Sharing your thoughts on climate change also means bringing the knowledge to back up your claims. Have those facts lined up to make your point! And in the same breath, don’t forget not to overwhelm everyone with too many statistics. Harsh truth but we tend to tune out people who just blab a ton of facts. Try this instead: That’s a common misconception but I’ve actually found that to be untrue when I was researching ___. I can share the article with you if you want? It was a great read!

7. Challenge Their Ideas

It’s safe to say that many of us don’t like confrontation. It’s uncomfortable. But, when approached right, a conversation doesn’t have to become an argument. And conversations work both ways! You’ve gotta be open to being challenged as well. So, let them share their thoughts without interruption. We know it can be hard! What if they are SO in left-field?! Your time to talk will come. Once you’ve heard them out, try to reposition their points.

8. Make It Personal for Them

People have an easier time discussing new ideas when they can relate. So make things personal (in a good way!). Ask how they think climate change will affect the future of their families, their livelihood, and their life overall. If they love to travel, climate change will affect the places they’re able to visit in the future. Outdoor hobbies like fishing, camping, hiking and skiing can also be impacted by climate change. Explain how we really have no life without this planet, which is why it’s so important for us all to work together! When you reframe the topic as something more personal, they’re wayyy more likely to take interest.

9. Encourage Action

Okay, so they’ve heard you out and they wanna start doing their part to act on climate change. But…they aren’t sure where to start. Maybe they’re worried it’ll be too difficult or unattainable for them, or that any effort they make won’t matter in the long run. Remind them that every small change counts, even everyday switches like taking the bus instead of driving or swapping out plastic grocery bags with reusable ones. Invite them to some of your environmental volunteer commitments! Make sure they know they’re not alone in this so that the transition is 1000x easier.

10. Be Open to Future Conversations

If talking about climate change doesn’t go great the first time, don’t sweat it! It takes practice, but you’ll get the hang of it. And if it went pretty well, that’s sooo amazing! Either way, make it clear that you’re open to more conversations about climate change in the future and that you’re available for any questions they might have. Now that you’ve planted the idea in their minds, give it some time to grow! They might just need to process what you’ve shared before they decide to get more involved.

No matter what, it’s so incredible that you’ve decided to start talking about climate change. This is a subject that affects us all (and affects our mental health!). So props to you for wanting to get the people in your life involved in climate activism, even if it’s baby steps. You’re changing the world as we know it!