Engaging stakeholders to nurture emotional resilience among environmental experts and stewards

People working on the frontlines of environmental protection, natural systems stewardship, and climate action are experiencing high levels of distress and burnout. The goal of this project is to conduct research for and with people engaged in these environmental efforts to understand their emotional experiences and contemplative practices that may support their mental health. Our core research team, which includes an environmental leader, will convene an advisory board of diverse environmental experts and stewards to partner with throughout the research project. We will first conduct interviews with advisory board members to deepen our understanding of what drew them to their work, how they cope with distress, and what brings them joy. Guided by interview themes, scholarship on contemplative practices, and further discussion with the board, we will then conduct focus groups with environmentalists, particularly subgroups unjustly impacted by environmental crises. Contemplative practices will be offered in these focus groups to explore experiences of these practices and facilitate discussion of other practices that may be supportive. Based on insights from interviews and focus groups, contemplative practices will be integrated in a curriculum being developed to nurture emotional resilience among environmental experts and stewards such that they can continue their crucial efforts.