Luca Barakat, a member of Fridays for Future, speaks openly about his burnout. Climate activists in particular have to deal with daily challenges - including confrontation with hostile passers-by.
By his own estimation, he invests around 60 hours a week in his activism, which is more than a full-time job. “You don’t notice burnout straight away. ‘Often only when it’s too late,’ says Barak at, who is now undergoing therapy.. Activist groups themselves strive to support the mental health of their members. So-called awareness teams are responsible for this. "As a climate activist, you are often laughed at when you talk about mental health problems. That's why we create places where we feel taken seriously and safe,” says Lisa Poettinger, from the group Psychologists for Future. The best support network is a strong bond with people who understand what you are going through, says psychologist Birgit Zech.