Maja Janković participated at the international conference “18th Crisis Management Days” (DKU2025), held from June 3 to 4, 2025, in Opatija, Croatia. At the conference, she presented the findings of a scientific research study conducted in collaboration with colleagues Iva Tolić Mandić and Tamara Tišma, titled “Burnout on a Burning Planet – How Young People Face Climate Anxiety.” This study represents the first research conducted in the Republic of Croatia on the impact of climate change on the mental health of young people.
The results highlight pronounced emotional responses among youth triggered by climate change, most notably fear, anxiety, and a sense of helplessness. Notably, while climate anxiety is inherently distressing, it can also serve a motivational function by encouraging both individual and collective engagement in climate action. The majority of young people perceive current climate change mitigation efforts as insufficient and express profound concern for the future. Systematic education and accessible psychological support are identified as key factors in alleviating the effects of climate anxiety and empowering young people to undertake meaningful action. Although young individuals acknowledge the importance of collective responsibility and cooperation, they frequently lack adequate information regarding climate anxiety and its broader implications.
