AnxietyAnx-RSNCT07305688
Climate Anxiety in a Young Population at Risk of Suicide
An observational study of Anxiety and Suicidal Ideation, run by Centre Hospitalier Esquirol at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
Climate change has become a major source of concern, particularly among younger generations who are facing the progressive degradation of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and alarming environmental information disseminated through the media. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 16 to 24 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Anxiety, Suicidal Ideation, Mental Health Issue
- What is being tested?
- Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Climate Change Anxiety Scale - French version and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, French version
- How many people
- 108 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 15 Dec 2025to 15 Mar 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 16 to 24 years
- All sexes
- Child, Adult
Study population: The study population consists of 108 adolescents and young adults aged 16 to 24 years, recruited within the Esquirol Hospital Center (France). Participants are approached in adult and pediatric emergency departments, adult psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry units, as well as during outpatient consultations.
Who may be able to join
- Men and women, boys and girls ;
- Aged between 16 and 24;
- Participants seen in adult or pediatric emergency departments, hospitalised in adult psychiatry or in child and adolescent psychiatry, or seen in outpatient consultation at Esquirol Hospital Center ;
- Affiliated with a social security scheme or entitled to coverage under one ;
- Having received full information about the study and having co-signed, together with the investigator, an informed consent form to participate in the study.
- For minor participants: the consent to participate in the study must be signed by the holder(s) of parental authority, and the minor's assent will also be required.
Who cannot join
- Participants will not be included in the study if their health condition is incompatible with understanding or completing the questionnaires used. This includes, in particular ;
- Any chronic somatic pathology or major sensory impairment (for example : deafness or blindness) preventing reading, comprehension or communication with healthcare professionals ;
- Any severe psychiatric pathology that significantly impairs cognitive or communication abilities, such as acute psychotic disorders, pervasive developmental disorders or confusional states ;
- Participants hospitalised in units specialising in severe psychiatric disorders with major impairment of cognitive functions.
- Adults under legal protection, in accordance with article L 1121-8 of the Public Health Code ;
- Insufficient command of the French language
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Florence BOSSELUT, PhD contact
France1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Hospital Esquirol Center
Limoges, 87025
Bertrand OLLIAC, Professor, bertrand.olliac@unlim.fr
Mireille BELLE MBOU, PhD, mireille.bellembou@ch-esquirol-limoges.fr
About this study
Climate change has become a major source of concern, particularly among younger generations who are facing the progressive degradation of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and alarming environmental information disseminated through the media. The direct perception of climate-related disruptions has been shown to engender a profound sense of helplessness and loss. This distress, termed eco-anxiety, is characterised by feelings of fear, sadness and guilt regarding the planet's future.
In a context where there has been a marked increase in suicidal thoughts and attempts among young people over the past decade, it is essential to explore the psychological manifestations of eco-anxiety within this vulnerable population. The paucity of studies investigating this association underscores the significance of the present research.
Read more
The aims of this study is to examine the relationship between climate anxiety and suicidal risk among young people aged 16 to 24 years.
The study will encompass 108 young participants aged between 16 and 24 years, who are either hospitalised or receiving outpatient psychiatric care.
Each participant will be required to complete one clinician-administered assessment, namely the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), and two self-report questionnaires: the Climate Change Anxiety Scale - French version (CCAS-FR) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y).
Furthermore, a sociodemographic questionnaire will be administered in order to collect information regarding the subjects' age, sex, education level, living conditions, and psychiatric history.
It is hypothesised that there is a positive association between climate anxiety and suicidal risk, with the most eco-anxious participants showing higher C-SSRS scores. It is further predicted that eco-anxiety will correlate with elevated levels of state and trait anxiety, with the potential for modulating this relationship by sociodemographic factors, including gender.
This study will contribute to a better understanding of the psychological impacts of climate change on young people and help identify the most vulnerable profiles.
Read the detailed description
The Anx-RS France study investigates the association between climate change-related anxiety (eco-anxiety) and suicidal ideation among young people aged 16 to 24 years in France. Growing evidence suggests that climate change may contribute to psychological distress and feelings of hopelessness in younger generations. However, data on the link between eco-anxiety and suicide risk in this age group remain limited.
This is an observational, cross-sectional study including 108 participants recruited from university settings and the general population in France. Eligible participants are aged 16-24 years, fluent in French, and provide informed consent (parental consent is obtained for minors). Participants will be excluded if they have a health condition that prevents them from understanding or completing the study questionnaires. This includes major sensory impairments (e.g., deafness, blindness), severe psychiatric disorders affecting cognition or communication (e.g., acute psychosis, pervasive developmental disorder, confusional state), or current hospitalization in specialized psychiatric units for severe mental illness.
Participants complete a self-administered online survey composed of three validated instruments:
- Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS) - measuring anxiety, rumination, and functional impairment related to climate change.
- State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T/Y) - assessing general trait anxiety levels.
- Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) - evaluating suicidal ideation and behavior.
Descriptive analyses will estimate the prevalence and intensity of climate-related anxiety. Correlational and multivariate analyses will assess the association between eco-anxiety (CCAS) and suicidal ideation (C-SSRS), adjusting for general anxiety levels (STAI-T/Y).
The results will improve understanding of how climate-related distress affects mental health and suicide risk among young people in France, and support prevention strategies and mental-health policy adaptation to emerging environmental stressors.
- Being tested
- Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Climate Change Anxiety Scale - French version, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, French version, Socio demographic profil
- Keywords
- Eco-anxiety, Anxiety disorders, Suicide risk, Mental health, Young adults
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders, Suicidal Ideation, Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Columbia Suicide Severity Rating ScaleOther
Standardized tool for evaluating suicidal ideation and behavior. Measures severity and intensity of suicidal thoughts and actions.
Climate Change Anxiety Scale - French versionOther
22-item self-report questionnaire assessing cognitive, emotional, functional, and pro-environmental dimensions of climate change-related anxiety.
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, French versionOther
40-item self-report inventory measuring both state and trait anxiety levels.
Socio demographic profilOther
Collects demographic and background variables such as age, gender, education level and living conditions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Young Population at Suicide Risk | Adolescents and young adults aged 16-24 years, recruited from emergency, inpatient, and outpatient psychiatry units at Esquirol Hospital Center (France). Participants complete standardized questionnaires assessing climate change anxiety (CCAS-FR), suicidal ideation and behavior (C-SSRS), and general anxiety (STAI-C or STAI-Y). Receives: Other: Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale; Other: Climate Change Anxiety Scale - French version; Other: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, French version; Other: Socio demographic profil |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Climate Change Anxiety Score
Global score from the 13-item French version of the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS-FR), obtained by summing the cognitive, emotional, and functional disturbance subscales. Higher scores indicate greater levels of climate change-related anxiety.
Score ranges 13 to 65
Measured: 10 min
Suicide Risk Score
Overall score of suicidal ideation and behavior assessed using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Higher scores indicate greater suicide risk Score ranges from 2 to 25.
Measured: 10 min
Secondary outcomes (2)
Extended Dimensions of Climate Change Anxiety
Subdimension scores from the extended version of the CCAS-FR, assessing cognitive, emotional, and functional disturbances, as well as direct or indirect experience of climate change and pro-environmental behaviors.
Measured: 10 min
State and Trait Anxiety Scores
Anxiety levels measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The STAI-C is used for participants aged 16-17 years, and the STAI-Y for those aged 18-24 years. Separate state and trait anxiety scores will be analyzed Score ranges 20 to 80
Measured: 20 min
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Dec 2025
- Study start15 Dec 2025
- Primary completion15 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Mar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 108 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Centre Hospitalier Esquirol
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Bertrand Olliac, Centre Hospitalier Esquirol
- Investigators
- Bertrand OLLIAC, MD, PhD, Study director, Hospital Esquirol Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07305688
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025-A00139-40
- Acronym
- Anx-RS
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 12 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 4 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Climate Anxiety in a Young Population at Risk of Suicide
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07305688
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Anx-RS / 2025-A00139-40
- Keywords
- Eco-anxiety, Anxiety disorders, Suicide risk, Mental health, Young adults
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 108 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Centre Hospitalier EsquirolUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 26 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Climate change has become a major source of concern, particularly among younger generations who are facing the progressive degradation of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and alarming environmental information disseminated through the media. The direct perception of climate-related disruptions has been shown to engender a profound sense of helplessness and loss. This distress, termed eco-anxiety, is characterised by feelings of fear, sadness and guilt regarding the planet's future.
In a context where there has been a marked increase in suicidal thoughts and attempts among young people over the past decade, it is essential to explore the psychological manifestations of eco-anxiety within this vulnerable population. The paucity of studies investigating this association underscores the significance of the present research.
The aims of this study is to examine the relationship between climate anxiety and suicidal risk among young people aged 16 to 24 years.
The study will encompass 108 young participants aged between 16 and 24 years, who are either hospitalised or receiving outpatient psychiatric care.
Each participant will be required to complete one clinician-administered assessment, namely the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), and two self-report questionnaires: the Climate Change Anxiety Scale - French version (CCAS-FR) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y).
Furthermore, a sociodemographic questionnaire will be administered in order to collect information regarding the subjects' age, sex, education level, living conditions, and psychiatric history.
It is hypothesised that there is a positive association between climate anxiety and suicidal risk, with the most eco-anxious participants showing higher C-SSRS scores. It is further predicted that eco-anxiety will correlate with elevated levels of state and trait anxiety, with the potential for modulating this relationship by sociodemographic factors, including gender.
This study will contribute to a better understanding of the psychological impacts of climate change on young people and help identify the most vulnerable profiles.
Detailed description
The Anx-RS France study investigates the association between climate change-related anxiety (eco-anxiety) and suicidal ideation among young people aged 16 to 24 years in France. Growing evidence suggests that climate change may contribute to psychological distress and feelings of hopelessness in younger generations. However, data on the link between eco-anxiety and suicide risk in this age group remain limited.
This is an observational, cross-sectional study including 108 participants recruited from university settings and the general population in France. Eligible participants are aged 16-24 years, fluent in French, and provide informed consent (parental consent is obtained for minors). Participants will be excluded if they have a health condition that prevents them from understanding or completing the study questionnaires. This includes major sensory impairments (e.g., deafness, blindness), severe psychiatric disorders affecting cognition or communication (e.g., acute psychosis, pervasive developmental disorder, confusional state), or current hospitalization in specialized psychiatric units for severe mental illness.
Participants complete a self-administered online survey composed of three validated instruments:
- Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS) - measuring anxiety, rumination, and functional impairment related to climate change.
- State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T/Y) - assessing general trait anxiety levels.
- Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) - evaluating suicidal ideation and behavior.
Descriptive analyses will estimate the prevalence and intensity of climate-related anxiety. Correlational and multivariate analyses will assess the association between eco-anxiety (CCAS) and suicidal ideation (C-SSRS), adjusting for general anxiety levels (STAI-T/Y).
The results will improve understanding of how climate-related distress affects mental health and suicide risk among young people in France, and support prevention strategies and mental-health policy adaptation to emerging environmental stressors.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Young Population at Suicide Risk | – | Other: Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Other: Climate Change Anxiety Scale - French version, Other: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, French version, Other: Socio demographic profilAdolescents and young adults aged 16-24 years, recruited from emergency, inpatient, and outpatient psychiatry units at Esquirol Hospital Center (France). Participants complete standardized questionnaires assessing climate change anxiety (CCAS-FR), suicidal ideation and behavior (C-SSRS), and general anxiety (STAI-C or STAI-Y). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 16 to 24 years
- Sex
- All
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
- Study population
- The study population consists of 108 adolescents and young adults aged 16 to 24 years, recruited within the Esquirol Hospital Center (France). Participants are approached in adult and pediatric emergency departments, adult psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry units, as well as during outpatient consultations.
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Men and women, boys and girls ;
- Aged between 16 and 24;
- Participants seen in adult or pediatric emergency departments, hospitalised in adult psychiatry or in child and adolescent psychiatry, or seen in outpatient consultation at Esquirol Hospital Center ;
- Affiliated with a social security scheme or entitled to coverage under one ;
- Having received full information about the study and having co-signed, together with the investigator, an informed consent form to participate in the study.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Participants will not be included in the study if their health condition is incompatible with understanding or completing the questionnaires used. This includes, in particular ;
- Any chronic somatic pathology or major sensory impairment (for example : deafness or blindness) preventing reading, comprehension or communication with healthcare professionals ;
- Any severe psychiatric pathology that significantly impairs cognitive or communication abilities, such as acute psychotic disorders, pervasive developmental disorders or confusional states ;
- Participants hospitalised in units specialising in severe psychiatric disorders with major impairment of cognitive functions.
- Adults under legal protection, in accordance with article L 1121-8 of the Public Health Code ;
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Suicide Severity Rating ScaleStandardized tool for evaluating suicidal ideation and behavior. Measures severity and intensity of suicidal thoughts and actions. | Other | Young Population at Suicide Risk |
| Climate Change Anxiety Scale - French version22-item self-report questionnaire assessing cognitive, emotional, functional, and pro-environmental dimensions of climate change-related anxiety. | Other | Young Population at Suicide Risk |
| State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, French version40-item self-report inventory measuring both state and trait anxiety levels. | Other | Young Population at Suicide Risk |
| Socio demographic profilCollects demographic and background variables such as age, gender, education level and living conditions. | Other | Young Population at Suicide Risk |
Primary outcome
Climate Change Anxiety Score
Time frame: 10 min
Global score from the 13-item French version of the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS-FR), obtained by summing the cognitive, emotional, and functional disturbance subscales. Higher scores indicate greater levels of climate change-related anxiety. Score ranges 13 to 65
Suicide Risk Score
Time frame: 10 min
Overall score of suicidal ideation and behavior assessed using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Higher scores indicate greater suicide risk Score ranges from 2 to 25.
2 secondary outcomes
Extended Dimensions of Climate Change Anxiety
Time frame: 10 min
State and Trait Anxiety Scores
Time frame: 20 min
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Anxiety
Not yet recruiting
Effect of Stress Ball Use During Femoral Arterial Sheath Removal After Coronary Angiography
Femoral Arterial Sheath Removal, Stress Ball
Recruiting
Unified Protocol in Penitentiary Facilities
Depression Disorders, Anxiety
Not yet recruiting
Preventive and Personalized Digital Emotion Regulation Skills Intervention to Reduce Depression and Anxiety in Youths With Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse Childhood Experience, Depression / Major Depressive Disorder
Recruiting
Effect of a Brief Daily Digital Meditation on Well-Being in US Young Adults (BEGIN II)
Mental Health and General Well-being
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Functional Impact of Psychological Symptoms in Patients With Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Syndrome (SSCD): a National Cross-sectional Study
Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Florence BOSSELUT, PhD contact
Bertrand OLLIAC, MD, PhD study director
Hospital Esquirol Center
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Anxiety and Suicidal Ideation, run by Centre Hospitalier Esquirol at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Mireille BELLE MBOU, PhD (0587509130, mireille.bellembou@ch-esquirol-limoges.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Climate Change Anxiety Score (time frame: 10 min). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Jun 2026.