Rural communities are closely tied to their environment, with traditions and daily activities shaped by the natural world. As climate change disrupts these environmental patterns, it is causing significant emotional and psychological distress. This distress is often linked to 'Solastalgia', a psychological experience triggered by degradation of the environment around oneself. Research examines the emotional impact of climate change and ecological disasters. Solastalgia is a response, characterised by sadness, grief, and powerlessness caused by the transformation and degradation of one’s environment. To explore this further in the Indian context, First Check spoke with Prof Narsingh Kumar Singh, author of a study on the subject, and currently a faculty member at the Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad.

Professor Singh's research, conducted in the rural districts of Gaya and Jehanabad in Bihar, focused on the experiences of 34 individuals facing climate change impacts. The study shows how rising heatwaves, erratic rainfall, delayed monsoons, shrinking water resources, and the loss of local flora and fauna have negatively impacted residents' mental well-being, as they cope with the loss of traditional farming practices, cultural changes, and increasing helplessness. Professor Singh's work underlines the psychological toll of solastalgia, which has been felt strongly in these rural communities.

In our discussion, we explored what solastalgia would mean in the Indian context, how can it be diagnosed and how it is likely impacting a large part of the rural population in India. 

Excerpts from the interview: 

The first thing that I want to understand is the meaning of the word solastalgia, and how do we know of this term? Do mental health practitioners in India know about this term, and can this be diagnosed? 

When we experience new phenomena around us, we often need new terminology to describe them. For instance, we are familiar with the term "nostalgia," which is widely used. Similarly, solastalgia has become an established and recognized term, particularly within the scientific community.

The term solastalgia was coined by Glenn Albrecht almost two decades ago. It is derived from two words: "solace," which comes from Latin, and "algia," which comes from Greek. Both refer to pain and suffering. Solastalgia specifically describes the emotional distress people experience due to environmental changes, often linked to climate change.

For example, whether we live in villages or cities, we have an environment around us that we are connected to. When this environment degrades—when trees are cut, pollution increases, or familiar surroundings disappear—it causes pain, suffering, and sometimes anger. Solastalgia is the term that encapsulates this experience.

Since solastalgia is a psychological condition, can it be diagnosed medically like other mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder?

Psychological experiences, by their very nature, are difficult to measure because they are inherently subjective and complex. Unlike physical symptoms, which are observable and quantifiable, psychological feelings and experiences are internal, making them harder to capture.

However, psychologists have developed tools to address this challenge. Standardized scales, designed based on extensive research involving large populations, can provide valuable insights into psychological states. While they may not offer precise measurements, they serve as reliable indicators of the psychological experiences of individuals or communities.

For example, there are specific scales used to assess the psychological impact of environmental degradation, whether caused by human activities or natural calamities. One such scale was developed in Chile in 2022 by Christian Cox and other researchers. This tool was specifically designed to measure the psychological effects of environmental degradation, which is a significant issue in Chile due to frequent man-made degradation activities.

These scales help assess the psychological impact on affected communities, though it is important to note that they provide an assessment rather than exact measurements.

Does solastalgia exclusively relate to climate and environmental changes, or could it also result from other changes in one’s surroundings, such as moving to a different household or environment?

No there is a difference. The term solastalgia is specifically used to describe the emotional distress caused by environmental changes, particularly climate change and ecological degradation. While other psychological concepts may also explain reactions to changes in the environment, solastalgia uniquely focuses on the connection between individuals and their home environment. It's about how people feel when the environment they identify with is harmed.

In my study, I focused on rural communities in Bihar, where environmental degradation, particularly due to mining activities, is prominent. I observed that the government has limited control over the environmental changes occurring in these areas, which led me to explore how these changes affect the mental and emotional health of local populations.

We conducted a qualitative study with in-depth interviews from 34 participants, primarily older adults (aged 50 and above), who had lived through significant environmental changes. These individuals were more likely to have experienced the climate shifts over time and could speak to the psychological impacts of these changes.

From this study, we found that solastalgia deeply impacts people’s mental and emotional health, especially in relation to their sense of identity. Human identity is often tied to a place—where we were born, where we grew up, and where we feel rooted. This "place identity" is integral to how people define themselves. Even those who work in distant places or better economic conditions often return to their home regions because that connection to place remains a key part of their identity.

When environmental changes disrupt this connection, it can lead to a loss of identity, especially for those whose sense of self is strongly linked to their land. This can cause profound psychological effects, such as feelings of isolation and diminished self-worth. People may try to find new sources of identity, such as religious or other affiliations, but the loss of their "place" can be deeply unsettling.

The psychological distress caused by solastalgia can also manifest physically over time. Research is still ongoing to understand how these psychological experiences may lead to physical symptoms. Although this is a new area of study, the evidence suggests that the emotional impacts of environmental degradation are significant, with potential long-term effects on both mental and physical health.

In your study, how does solastalgia impact the mental and emotional health of rural communities, particularly in Bihar?

As mentioned earlier, we primarily interviewed elderly individuals for the study. An important aspect I would like to highlight is the gendered dimension of solastalgia. Women, in particular, may experience the psychological impacts of environmental degradation more acutely than men. This is because, in many rural communities, women have a deeper connection to nature.

In these areas, women are often more involved in the daily activities that rely directly on the surrounding ecology, whether it’s farming, collecting water, or tending to trees. Many women even engage in rituals like worshiping trees, which further connects them to their environment. As a result, they may be more attuned to the changes occurring in the land around them and, consequently, more affected by the loss or degradation of that environment.

In our study, some women shared their grief and pain regarding the changes they’ve witnessed. For example, farmers, both men and women, mentioned how, in the past, their farming practices did not require excessive water from external sources. Natural rainfall was enough for their crops. However, they now face unpredictable weather patterns, including changes in wind and rainfall, making it harder to rely on nature for farming. These shifts in climate have disrupted their ability to predict agricultural cycles.

Women also spoke of the cultural loss tied to these environmental changes. One farmer shared his grief about losing the ability to predict weather patterns. In the past, he thought, he was highly skilled at forecasting when rain would come, when it would not, and which crops would thrive in specific weather conditions. His predictions were key to his farming practices, helping him decide which crops to plant and when. However, with the changing climate and increasingly volatile weather, his once-reliable forecasts no longer work.

In another case, some women shared how a particular spot they used to frequent after a long day of farming has also changed significantly. This spot, once a place for resting and enjoying simple games or small moments of joy after their hard work, no longer holds the same appeal. This makes them distressed.

Can we say that farm distress experienced by farmers due to erratic rainfall patterns, displacement due to government projects, or industrialization is linked to Solastalgia, particularly in terms of their emotional and psychological responses to these changes?

Certainly, I believe this phenomenon is happening on a large scale. While people may not have openly discussed it before, there is an increasing awareness now, and a significant portion of the population may be experiencing it. Studies suggest that this is especially evident in coastal areas, such as Kerala, and even in cities like Mumbai, which frequently suffer from extreme weather events, including erratic rainfall. The frequency of such extreme events has increased, which is why the discussion on Solastalgia is becoming more prominent.

I agree with you that this issue is not limited to just specific pockets in the country. Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to climate extremes, and these communities face such challenges on a daily basis. Governments need to be more proactive in addressing these concerns. However, it's likely that many cases of Solastalgia remain unrecognized, and we may never fully understand the extent of its impact across the country.

Is there any connection between Solastalgia and Community Health Dynamics, in rural areas? 

You're absolutely right. Health scientists are beginning to recognize the link between Solastalgia and broader health concerns. While it primarily manifests as a mental health issue, it could eventually lead to physical health consequences, as more people begin to connect the dots. Extreme environmental events undoubtedly result in significant mental health outcomes, including conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe stress, depression, and feelings of despair and loneliness. These are psychological outcomes directly linked to extreme events, and they become more pronounced in the wake of such disasters.

Take, for example, the recent wildfires in Los Angeles. While extreme events like these have long impacted vulnerable communities, the difference now is that wealthier people are also being affected. This shift in who is impacted has brought more attention to the issue. The distress caused by these disasters results in mental health outcomes, and Solastalgia may be mediating this process by connecting the emotional pain caused by environmental degradation to those psychological symptoms.

Though the symptoms may overlap with conditions like depression or PTSD, the underlying process is different. It's a complex interplay between environmental loss, emotional distress, and its subsequent impact on mental well-being. Solastalgia acts as an intermediary, bridging the gap between environmental trauma and mental health outcomes.

You just said, solastalgia is a psychological experience. But, how do we understand it? Should we understand it as a psychological experience or a mental health concern? 

To understand and identify this experience, researchers use self-reporting skills, often in the form of questionnaires or interviews. By talking to people and asking them about their emotional responses to climate change or ecological degradation, we can gauge whether they are suffering from this type of psychological distress. These tools are designed to help identify the emotional toll that environmental changes are taking on individuals, even though it may not always appear as a severe mental health condition.

However, as the frequency of extreme climate events increases—such as the annual flooding in Kerala, for instance—people are more likely to show signs of mental health symptoms over time. While early signs of solastalgia may not be immediately severe, if these events become more common, they could lead to deeper psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and chronic stress.

It's important to acknowledge that as climate events become more frequent, the emotional and mental health impact on individuals will likely grow as well. Proactive mental health support systems and early interventions will be essential in preparing for the potential increase in mental health issues related to solastalgia and climate change.

What coping mechanisms can, you know, communities and individuals, adopt, to manage emotional stress that is caused by climate change? 

It is unfortunate that individuals often find themselves limited to merely adapting to the changes happening around them, as climate change is beyond their control. Climate action should primarily be a collective, community-driven effort, with significant government involvement. However, in the face of environmental degradation, individuals are left to cope with the consequences through adaptation, which can lead to feelings of helplessness. For instance, in our study, we found that farmers have started using more fertilizers due to declining crop yields. While adaptation mechanisms like this are common, they don't solve the root problem and can even exacerbate issues in the long term.

One potential solution lies in identifying regions and communities most affected by climate change, such as coastal areas or places experiencing extreme events. Once identified, these communities could benefit from localized interventions, including training counselors within the community itself. It has been found that people often respond better to counselors who come from the same community rather than outsiders. Additionally, fostering support systems within the community—where friends and neighbors offer help—can be more effective than formal counseling in certain contexts.

Moreover, addressing environmental concerns like uncontrolled land mining and deforestation is essential, as these activities further contribute to the climate crisis. According to a United Nations report, women can play a crucial role in preserving nature and protecting local environments. Empowering women and encouraging them to lead conservation efforts within their communities can significantly help in mitigating the impacts of climate change and solastalgia. A combination of community-based interventions, local support systems, and the active involvement of women can make a difference in addressing both the psychological and ecological impacts of climate change.

Also read: Climate change trumps political uncertainty in priorities for global executives: report - First Check