When talking with young people, conversations about mental health, faith, and the environment are key. We often overlook their interconnectedness. The planet’s health affects our minds, faith shapes our hearts, and caring for creation nurtures inner peace.

Nature has always been a silent healer. Walking in a forest, hearing birds, or seeing flowing water calms anxiety and refreshes the mind. That’s why nature walks are central to Laudato Youth Initiative programs. Studies show that time in nature reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, while improving concentration and creativity. For students, green spaces become peaceful classrooms to breathe, reflect, and find balance amid academic pressure.

I recently joined our Laudato Si Club of Nyakasura for a nature walk. Along the way, I spoke with several participating Laudato Youth. One student said, “Being in a natural environment makes me feel alive. It reminds me that there’s beauty in the world, even when things seem tough.” Another added, “I feel more connected to the earth and to myself when I’m surrounded by nature.”

When the environment suffers, so do we. Deforestation, pollution, and climate change cause not only physical harm but also emotional strain. Many young people feel eco-anxiety, deep worry for the planet’s future. It’s essential to turn that concern into positive action and community involvement.

At Laudato Youth, we empower young people to be part of the solution. Caring for creation is eco-therapy, healing both minds and hearts. Planting trees, tending climate-smart gardens, cleaning up, and recycling are not just environmental acts; they are healing practices.

Caring for creation in this sense becomes a form of eco-therapy, a way to heal our minds and hearts. Many students say that when they engage in conversations during nature walks—laughing, smiling, shouting, and hearing their echo—they feel relaxed. When participating in activities like planting trees, tending school gardens, cleaning up, or recycling, these are not just environmental acts; they are healing practices.

Through these small gestures, they rediscover hope, purpose, and connection. Laudato Si activities continually amaze me as we engage Laudato Youth in caring for creation. I witness joy, teamwork, and helping hands, which reminds me of our motto: “United for Climate Action.” I am especially glad we integrate health awareness and talks into Laudato Si club programs. Mental health and environmental education must be integrated across disciplines. Programs such as reflection moments, mindfulness walks, storytelling, and Laudato Si Masses help students link emotional well-being with ecological responsibility.

One touching story was from an elder whose well-preserved home we passed by in the forest. For him, the message is clear: grassroots communities value emphasizing that cultural/ traditional communities teach ecological values.

Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si’ that “everything is connected.” Caring for our common home protects both the land and the lives it sustains, including our own. Let’s build a culture where mental health, faith, and environmental care go hand in hand, since the well-being of the Earth and humanity are one and the same. By working together, we can create a brighter future where the planet and our minds are both prioritized.