Researchers have introduced a new term, “solastalgia,” to describe the mental distress linked to the effects of climate change. Coined in 2023, solastalgia blends ‘solace’ and ‘nostalgia’ to articulate the absence of comfort and the anxiety stemming from environmental changes. A recent study conducted by the University of St Gallen in Switzerland, which involved data from Australia, the USA, Germany, and Peru, highlights a significant relationship between solastalgia and mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The researchers noted that solastalgia falls within a broader framework of eco-emotions, including eco-anxiety and eco-grief, which may provide insights into mental health challenges arising from environmental crises. Evidence suggests that individuals experiencing solastalgia often feel powerless, grappling with a sense of resignation as they confront changes beyond their control.
A survey by the Climate Council revealed that half of Australians have encountered climate-related disasters that adversely affected their mental well-being, with 19 percent reporting significant impacts. The researchers observed that long-term environmental degradation correlates more strongly with poor mental health outcomes than isolated catastrophic events like bushfires or floods.
The findings suggest that solastalgia could be more pronounced in situations of ongoing environmental harm, rather than in response to singular disasters. It appears that feelings of helplessness and despair exacerbated by continuous ecological decline enhance the experience of solastalgia, particularly for those who feel they are unable to influence the outcomes of climate change. This underscores the need for awareness and action around the psychological effects of climate change to better support affected individuals.