Volume-1, Issue-1

1. Introduction

Decades of strategic investments and economic development have secured Bangladesh as a global leader in disaster preparedness and climate-informed adaptation. Despite these efforts, the country remains susceptible to significant environmental hazards such as tropical cyclones and life-threatening temperatures. Coastal regions such as Khulna and Satkhira are affected by sea level rise due to seasonal monsoons and provide clear examples of how environmental changes can have significant psychological implications on the local community (Kabir et al., 2024a). Extreme weather often results in the progressive loss of vital ecosystems, familiar landscapes, traditional livelihoods, and sociocultural ways of life. Individuals who are exposed to these events on a local and global scale often express experiencing a distinct form of psychological distress known as ecological grief, which is generally attributed to biophysical losses and the overexploitation of natural resources (Benham & Hoerst, 2024; Pihkala, 2024). 

Ecological grief is a psychological and emotional response to environmental loss and degradation. It can occur in response to actual losses but can also be anticipatory due to awareness of projected environmental changes or outcomes for endangered species. Individuals affected by ecological grief typically experience intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, helplessness, anger, or intense mourning associated with the environment. These feelings also overlap with ecological anxiety characterized by broader concerns regarding global climate change and its implications for ecosystems, natural habitats, and communities.

2. Psychological Implications of Climate Change

Climate change poses a variety of risks to human health, including long-term threats to emotional and psychological wellbeing (Cianconi et al., 2020; Clayton et al., 2017; Cunsolo & Ellis, 2018). When individuals are exposed to environmental changes such as sea level rise or extreme flooding in Bangladesh’s coastal communities, it can influence their mental health outcomes. These outcomes are characterized by an increased likelihood of depression and anxiety, post-traumatic or chronic stress symptoms, a sense of helplessness or loss of control, disrupted sleep patterns, suicide, and increased engagement in substance use as a coping mechanism (Kabir, 2018; Kabir et al., 2024b; Nahar et al., 2014; Sattler et al.; 2018; Wahid et al., 2023). Individuals living in parts of Bangladesh that are more susceptible to climate change such as the Barind, Haor, and Chittagong Hill Tracts, are more likely to experience multiple extreme weather events over time due to their proximity. The lived experience of ecological grief in relation to potentially cumulative and traumatic climate-related events can increase the likelihood of developing or exacerbating psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD (Comtesse et al., 2021). 

3. Conclusion

The psychological distress and ecological grief associated with extreme weather events and environmental losses are often disenfranchised in our society. Limited public discourse about the emotional and psychological impacts of ecological change and loss underscores the urgent need for greater awareness in both clinical and community settings. Although exposure to environmental changes have been shown to pose risks to mental health, many healthcare professionals do not recognize ecological anxiety or grief as legitimate concerns, and traditional counseling or therapy models may not address it adequately due to its absence in clinical frameworks. Greater recognition is necessary not only for ensuring the provision of quality care to affected individuals, but also for developing comprehensive strategies for public health campaigns that can empower communities facing similar challenges. By implementing more community-based support systems, introducing adaptive coping strategies, and working to address underlying susceptibility to ecological change, the long-term impact to psychological well-being may be mitigated. Ongoing research and policy development will be essential in the larger effort to build sustainable and adaptive communities prepared for global environmental change

Funding: This research received no external funding.

Data Availability Statement: All of the data used in this study are available in public domain.

Acknowledgments: Not Applicable.

Conflict of Interest: The author declares no conflicts of interest.

Declaration of generative AI in scientific writing: During the preparation of this work, the author used ChatGPT to assist in drafting and refining various sections of the manuscript. After this tool was utilized, the author reviewed and edited the content as needed and takes full responsibility for the content of the published article.

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