Solastalgia

“I define ‘solastalgia’ as the pain or distress caused by the ongoing loss of solace and the sense of desolation connected to the present state of one’s home and territory. . . . In direct contrast to the dislocated spatial dimensions of traditionally defined nostalgia, solastalgia is the homesickness you have when you are still located within your home environment” (Albrecht 2009, 38–39).

“Climate change affects mental health . . . by causing anxiety-related responses, and later chronic and severe mental health disorders . . . These effects will fall disproportionately on individuals who are already vulnerable, especially for indigenous people and those living in low-resource settings. Additionally, individuals might feel a distressing sense of loss, known as solastalgia, that people experience when their land is damaged and they lose amenity and opportunity” (Watts et al. 2015, 1877).