The saline siege: Why mental health and water justice must converge in Odisha’s coastal villages
The saline wells of coastal Puri, India
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This year’s Union government budget rightly recognises mental health as a priority. Yet mental wellbeing cannot be separated from environmental security. In saline-hit villages like this one, mental stress is not an abstract clinical diagnosis — it is embedded in daily survival.
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Psychologists have a term for the loss and distress caused by environmental change: solastalgia — the grief of seeing one’s home transform into something unrecognisable.
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The mental health implications of water insecurity extend beyond distress. Scientific research shows that saltwater intrusion into drinking water sources can contribute to elevated sodium intake, increasing the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disorders among coastal populations — a risk that is expected to worsen under future climate scenarios.
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This reveals a profound Resilience Gap. While there are great plans to invest in sea walls, aquifer recharge systems, and climate-proof infrastructure, vulnerable coastal communities struggle for a bucket of fresh water. The result is not only physical deprivation, but a silent mental health burden — anxiety, helplessness, and exhaustion.
Mental health budgeting, therefore, must go beyond post-disaster counseling. It must be woven into climate resilience planning. Assurance, transparency, and visible government action are themselves forms of psychological support. When communities see systems responding, hope becomes a protective factor.
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If this era of water bankruptcy is to end, we must recognise that water security is also mental security. A functioning well is not just a utility; it is peace of mind, social stability, and human dignity.
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