Impact of Heavy Flooding on Community Mental Health in Umueze Aname Community in Anambra State of Nigeria
This case study was identified during the Connecting Climate Minds regional dialogue for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Dialogue participants highlighted how heavy and unprecedented flooding, brought on by climate change, has impacted the mental health of the community.
Overview
Floods in Anam Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria
This case study was identified during the Connecting Climate Minds regional dialogue for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Dialogue participants highlighted how heavy and unprecedented flooding, brought on by climate change, has impacted the mental health of the community.
Two research assistants from the SSA Community Convenor team worked with four community members to gather the information below. The objective of this case study is to showcase an example of the effects of climate change-induced flooding on the mental health and wellbeing of people and communities.
Background
Anam Community is a mega-community of eight villages located in Anambra State and is bounded by three historic rivers: River Anambra (Ọmambala), River Niger and River Ezichi. Anam is the largest and most populous community in the Omambala region, with economic ties extending far beyond the state.
The Umueze Aname Community, one of the eight villages in the Anam Community, has experienced unprecedented, consistent flooding for the last two years. The impact on the mental health of the community is overwhelming.
Climate impacts on the Umueze Aname Community
The community first experienced extreme flooding that submerged homes and farmlands in 2020. Only a few years earlier, flooding was not common, water was fairly available and farming communities thrived.
As a result of the floods, people were internally displaced and moved to a temporary settlement in a neighbouring community school. This resulted in community members being unable to cultivate their crops, while those practising small-scale animal husbandry lost their animals to floods. Many lost their homes and properties. Drinking water became contaminated, resulting in a high prevalence of water-borne and zoonotic diseases. Many of the people who stored their seeds in barns lost them all.
Above all, schools were closed as the buildings were submerged. While in internally displaced accommodation, children could not study and so lost an academic year of schooling.
Mental health impacts
For many, flooding led to loss of crops, homes and properties. This generated a lot of stigma and anxiety among the community, and many young people contemplated suicide. Many elderly could not bear the psychological burden of living in an internally displaced camp, and some lost their lives due to physical and psychological health complications. The psychological burden on the wider community is high.
An excerpt of how climate change impacts the mental health of community members was published in a leading Nigerian newspaper.
Challenges
The government and many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) paid multiple visits to the community to provide support, including food items. However, these interventions did not completely address the hunger in the region. Further, no psychological services were offered by these governments and NGOs.
As mental health challenges are routinely experienced by those in the region, people need mental health support. The palliative services provided by NGOs and government agencies have failed to sustainably provide solutions to the problem.
Interventions and support
Community members are adopting the Ibanikom Climate Mental Health Model from Cameroon to build climate and mental health resilience. The model includes strategies such as planting trees that can be used for the construction of homes and other economic uses and that also have environmental benefits, such as sinking carbon and preventing erosion. More information can be found here: https://kennethyongabianchang.com/projects/
The Kom community through the Ibanikom project in Cameroon is teaching the Anam community in Nigeria about the Ibanikom mental and climate model is being adopted in Anam community in Nigeria https://kennethyongabianchang.com/projects/
This initiative is supported by experts across SSA, including those at the Claretian University of Nigeria who provide mental health support via counselling and capacity building on water purification for home use.
Recommendations
There is a need to build the capacity of water purification skills and sustainable agriculture for communities affected by floods. These skills have the potential to reduce climate change-induced depression, grief and anxiety and to generate mental wellness.
The Regional Community Convenor for Connecting Climate Minds SSA has expertise in implementing green water treatment and green fertilizers, and is keen to expand this work with appropriate funding.