Context
Trinidad and Tobago, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) is extremely vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change. Physical size, susceptibility to natural disasters, a small population (1.4 mil), economic vulnerability, and low adaptive capacity (1,2) are all factors that contribute to the islands’ vulnerability. The effects of climate change are impacting the cultural survival, livelihoods, and physical and mental well-being of island communities. Furthermore, the negative mental health impacts of climate change on SIDS populations are projected to worsen (1,3).
Community Description
Moruga, a remote small village of Amerindian origin, is located in the Southern Peninsular of Trinidad. On a website designed to inform and educate persons about the fascinating history and culture of Moruga, Eleise Mendoza, a University student and proud resident, captures the essence of her community. She emphasizes that Moruga is ‘historically known for its calm beaches, wildlife, … fishing industry and country-like community …, historical sites and places to visit’ (4).
Unfortunately, locally, Moruga has been dubbed the ‘landslip capital’ because of land and infrastructure challenges. Moruga is prone to landslips and landslides during heavy rainfall due to loose soil and marked hollows created by mud volcanoes such as Moruga Bouffe and Lagon Bouffe (6). Additionally, like many other regions in South Trinidad, the soils of Moruga are high-mineral, expansive clays of the L’Ebranche series (6). These expansive clays, also locally called sapote clays, are engineering nightmares (7). The impact of climate change is more severe in communities like Moruga as the country continues to experience ‘periods of extended drought followed by shorter periods of heavy rainfall. In cases where lands and land cover have been eroded due to extremely dry conditions, heavy rains and attendant flooding regularly destroys crops and personal and public property’(8).
Climate-Related Mental Health Impacts
Residents of remote villages like Moruga, rich in culture and history, generally have strong place attachment, defined as the ‘positive emotional connection to places or landscapes that often inspires individuals and communities to engage in place protective actions when the place they are attached to comes under threat’ (9). These residents are severely affected by disasters caused by or accelerated by climate change and can experience place disruption –‘negative emotions and grief experienced when one’s community/environment’ is ‘modified, degraded or destroyed’ (9).
Unpublished reports, from a project (Building Community Climate Resilience with Cost-effective and Soft-Approach Green Engineering Solutions) designed to document and analyse dozens of annual land movement issues from the media and communities in Moruga and environs, highlight damages to infrastructure, well-being and a waning public trust toward government support within communities (10). Additionally, findings of further ad hoc, but complementary media analysis, on the effects of land movement in Moruga and environs paint a picture of communities and households that experience negative emotions and grief as a result of injury; loss of property and livelihood; severely damaged and/or deteriorating infrastructure; and social disruption to a point of fiery protests and blockades (10). These issues can lead to short- and long-term mental health effects which are rarely recognised or addressed by government and private sector interventions. Yet, on the other hand, public opinion shows that the majority of locals surveyed (89%) believe that Nature-based Solutions can help mitigate some of these issues while also, importantly, improving well-being (11).
Below are a few quotations extracted from an article written by journalist Sascha Wilson (Trinidad & Tobago Guardian Newspaper); she interviewed Moruga residents – Marcus and Kimberly Bruce, who lost their homes in 2021 due to landslides. The article notes that “all that is left of Marcus’ house is a concrete shell while wooden pillars were the only evidence of where Kimberly’s house once stood”.
“We get some movement in the place, house start to sink. I had my two kids with me so we start to relocate weself. We had to go and stay by we sister for a little point in time until we could get a little assistance.” Marcus Bruce – Moruga Resident.
“For the Christmas season it was real hard knowing I had my kids to provide for and I couldn’t do anything for them…The little money I had was to try to secure a next home for we to move to. We didn’t have a Christmas,” Marcus Bruce – Moruga Resident.
“How I came and lost my home I was stressing over these past few days.” - Kimberly Bruce, Moruga Resident eventually suffered a miscarriage.
“Their grandmother (her mother) is where I’m getting the little help and assistance. If wasn’t for her we wouldn’t have had anything.” Kimberly Bruce, Moruga Resident
Extreme disbelief, hopelessness, fear, and anxiety are some of the documented mental health issues that victims of landslides and displacement face. Several research studies have shown that landslides are associated with adverse mental health outcomes (even more so than other climate- and weather-related disasters) (12-14). These include post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder and major depressive episodes. During phone interviews with some residents of Moruga whose homes have been affected by landslides and land slippage, the following key mental health themes emerged: ‘fear’, ‘anxiety’, ‘worry’, ‘frustration’ and ‘stress’. One resident described a “scary experience to see the side and front of my home cracking” and shared that ‘rainfall brings anxiety’.
This case study showcases an innovative, low-cost, green and sustainable, and easy-to-learn technology/intervention designed to provide an alternative solution to current practices in prevention and mitigation of soil erosion, land slippage and movement, that also fortuitously contributed to improved mental health of participants.
Intervention
The Building on Vetiver (BOV) (2019 – 2023) project is a novel, innovative and impressive intervention designed and implemented by IAMovement, a non-profit organization in Trinidad and Tobago. IAMovement was founded in 2014 by a group of young people with a strong common need to effect positive environmental and social change.
The BOV project was designed to demonstrate the economic, social, and environmental benefits of a community driven approach using Vetiver to prevent and mitigate land slippage, movement, and rehabilitation. The Vetiver grass has long and strong roots which allows it to stabilise roots and reduce landslips and erosion risk. The project particularly focused on low-income and rural communities facing climate change-induced land degradation challenges. In as much as the project was not designed to measure positive mental health outcomes, it is clear that these outcomes were realised.
Several villagers from Fifth Company Moruga were fortunate to participate in the BOV project; over 9000 Vetiver plants were planted in Moruga and approximately 50% and 23% were used for residential property stabilisation and roadside stabilisation, respectively. During phone interviews with BOV participants, discussion related to improvement in mental health included words/phrases such as ‘hopefulness’, ‘seeing [positive] change’, ‘comfortable now’. One resident whose Vetiver plants were 3 years old said she was not ‘as worried as before’.
Key Insights, Lesson Learned and Recommendations
This case study highlights the need to champion for mental health to be measured and assessed when defining climate change related problems and designing interventions. While anecdotal evidence, at times, may capture positive mental health outcomes, studies/interventions should be designed to collect and analyse empirical data that can inform decision-making (policy or programming). This must be preceded by the development and use of contextualised, validated tools. Additionally, equipping affected persons to be aware of and understand their mental health, while promoting coping mechanisms and strategies is vital.
The BOV project has been immensely successful with many positive outcomes including: >65 households with improved living conditions, >35 acres of land improved, >2000 persons directly engaged and educated about Vetiver as a green infrastructure tool. However, its impact can be strengthened/deepened by capturing, documenting and showcasing the positive mental health outcomes experienced by participants.
Examples Community Members Planting Vetiver Grass to assist with Road Stabilization
Photo courtesy of Shelly-Ann Hunte
Examples Community Members Planting Vetiver Grass to assist with Residential Stabilization
Photo courtesy of Shelly-Ann Hunte
References
1. Kelman I, Ayeb-Karlsson S, Rose-Clarke K, Prost A, Ronneberg E, Wheeler N, et al. A review of mental health and wellbeing under climate change in small island developing states (SIDS). Environ Res Lett. 2021 Mar;16(3):033007.
2. Lewis CT. Climate Change and the Caribbean: Challenges and Vulnerabilities in Building Resilience to Tropical Cyclones. Climate. 2022 Nov;10(11):178.
3. Rise N, Oura C, Drewry J. Climate change and health in the Caribbean: A review highlighting research gaps and priorities. The Journal of Climate Change and Health. 2022 Oct 1;8:100126.
4. Mendoza E. History of Moruga. [cited 2024 Feb 2]. History of Moruga – (A small village in Southern Trinidad). Available from: https://historyofmoruga.wordpress.com/
5. Kanithi V, Kanhai C. Landslides in Trinidad – A Geotechnical Study.
6. Roopnarine R, Eudoxie G, Gay D. Estimation of soil strength using the adsorption soil-water characteristic curve. Caribbean Journal of Earth Science. 2014 Sep 17;47:1–8.
7. Crichlow A. Examining the Influence of Nature-Based Interventions on Soil Moisture. Poster presented at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine MSc programme presentations. Department of Life Sciences, UWI, St. Augustine. [Trinidad and Tobago]: The University of the West Indies. St. Augustine Campus; 2023.
8. IAMovement. Trinidad and Tobago- Building on Vetiver Project (Unpublished).
9. Phillips C, Murphy C. Solastalgia, place attachment and disruption: insights from a coastal community on the front line. Reg Environ Change. 2021 Jun;21(2):46.
10. IAMovement. CCRIF SPC Progress Reports (1 - 3) - Building Community Climate Resilience with Cost-Effective and Soft-Approach Green Engineering Solutions. Unpublished. 2021.
11. Alexander J. Assessing local opinions on the potential for the use of Nature-based Solutions to reduce vulnerability to flooding and improve well-being in urban areas in Trinidad and Tobago. 2021 [cited 2024 Feb 15]; Available from: https://www.ccrif.org/sites/default/files/publications/studentpapers/Final_Dissertation_201443035_JA.pdf
12. Kennedy ITR, Petley DN, Williams R, Murray V. A Systematic Review of the Health Impacts of Mass Earth Movements (Landslides). PLoS Curr [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2024 Feb 2]; Available from: https://currents.plos.org/disasters/article/a-systematic-review-of-the-health-impacts-of-mass-earth-movements-landslides/
13. K B, D P, M D, M B. Landslides, Displacement, and Mental Health in Banjarnegara, Indonesia: Environmental Epidemiology. 2019 Oct;3:46.
14. Burrows K, Pelupessy DC, Khoshnood K, Bell ML. Environmental Displacement and Mental Well-Being in Banjarnegara, Indonesia. Environ Health Perspect. 2021 Nov;129(11):117002.
Written by
Shelly-Ann Hunte (CCHSRD, UWI) & Kasey Gordon (IAMovement)