Objectives
This case study showcases how the mental health of a community is affected by severe drought due to climate and the steps taken to address this issue through capacity building via the Ibanikom Community Model in Cameroon. (https://kennethyongabianchang.com/projects/)
Background
Name of village/community: Hillview and surrounding areas under Ngculwini Chiefdom in the Manzini region
Population: +/-650 community members (from the local government county)
Name of organisation: Youth and Women for Change in Eswatini
Effects of climate change in Eswatini
In Eswatini, climate change has led to overall warming and increased aridity, with a greater frequency and intensity of droughts, floods and wildfires. There is also reduced or zero rainfall leading to dry spells and increased evaporation, increased temperatures, decreased air quality and an increased prevalence of diseases transmitted by insects, animals, food and water. This has led to frustration, increased emotions and depression by many members of the community due to inability to cultivate their crops and earn income.
Burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests and farming livestock are increasingly influencing the climate and earth’s temperatures. This adds enormous amounts of greenhouse gases to those naturally occurring in the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect and global warming. With increased temperatures, there have been cases of increased dehydration, anxiety, change in behaviours due to depression and grief.
This is a vulnerable community with life degenerating as climate change impacts hit hard. Prolonged drought has affected the drinking water sources and agriculture. As Picture 1 shows people cannot farm any longer, with a consequent reduction in available food.
Picture 1: farm land affected by drought
Water shortages (see Picture 2) are causing farmers to lose their livestock and farm products, increasing psychological effects. Some community members have to travel almost 8 km in search of water and it is very hard to find uncontaminated water sources. Efforts to keep animals alive can also be detrimental to human health as the community shares water with animals and cannot afford to purify the water for human consumption (see Picture 3).
Picture 2: Drinking water source, affected by severe drought. The water volume has decreased dramatically and the water is severely polluted and highly turbid.
Picture 3: The Lake served as a source of water for irrigation and drinking water. With increased severe drought, the water volume of the lake has reduced drastically and this now serves as a drinking water source for both people living in the area and cows.
Lindokuhle Sibiya, our lived experience member in the Sub–Saharan Africa Regional Community held a focus group discussion with people from Hillview and surrounding areas. They reported increased anxiety and depression. However, proper quantitative and qualitative documentation of the impact of this climate devastation on the mental health of the community is required.
Challenges in accessing support
There is stigma associated with visiting a psychiatric clinic or service points. People need mental health support such as counseling and emergency and disaster preparedness. Also a mental health risk assessment and mitigation to enable them cope with eventual climate disasters is part of the community resilience building and adaptation is is very necessary. Many NGOs and Government agencies are aware but the palliative services have failed to sustainably provide solutions to the problem. There are people living with various ailments but the additional stressors due to drought are adding to the anxiety and depression. The major challenge right now is to build interventions that can provide clean water and improve mental wellbeing.
Recommendations
In light of the insights from this case study, there is a need to build capacity on water purification skills and organic agriculture. It is also proposed that there needs to be more training of psychologists and increased mental health clinics and diagnostics that will potentially generate long term mental wellness and resilience in Eswantini.
Contact: RCC -SSA