Main theme 4 : Mental health in relation to the environment

The Camargue is an area facing multiple environmental pressures: rising sea levels, soil salinisation, heatwaves, flooding, pollution and emerging infectious risks. These rapid and often perceived-as-irreversible transitions can give rise to feelings of powerlessness and anxiety in the face of environmental degradation. Such emotional responses are now referred to eco-anxiety or Such emotional responses are now referred to as eco-anxiety or solastalgia— forms of psychological distress linked to environmental upheaval, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Despite numerous vulnerability factors present in the region, these phenomena have been little studied in the Camargue to date.

At the same time, the region offers a powerful sensory and emotional connection to naturewhose beneficial effects on mental health are well established, but poorly explored at the local level. Between perceived risks and psychological resources provided by nature, it has become crucial to better understand how such perceptions influence the well-being, behaviours, and capacity for action of Camargue residents. This line of research explores the psychological impact of ecological crises,the social and territorial inequalities in vulnerability and resilience,and potential levers for support and preventionin close collaboration with healthcare professionals, environmental actors, and local stakeholders.

Several projects are linked to this theme, including 2 funded projects:

• The TRANSCAM project
• The Salt Trial

Some references:

• Sutter, P.-E., Chamberlin S. & Messmer L. (2025). Eco-anxiety in France (2025 study). ADEME. 86 pages.
• Weiss, K. (2022). Eco-anxiety. Environmental psychology: 100 key concepts, 85-86
• Albrecht, G., Sartore, G. M., Connor, L., Higginbotham, N., Freeman, S., Kelly, B., ... & Pollard, G. (2007). Solastalgia: the distress caused by environmental change. Australasian psychiatry, 15(1_suppl), S95-S98.