The semi -barren of the drought Ghana is a well-recognized difficulty within the north, where The rain is wrong And agriculture is the most important place of rural economies. The economic and environmental effects of drought have been good Documentary. But the farmers and their families pay less attention to its psychological tool.
We have a Study I District Divine Ghana's Upper East region's semi -barren to evaluate the consequences of drought on the mental fitness of Peri urban farmers in Ghana. We are a multi -faceted team of students working in the sphere of flexibility, stability and up to date psychological fitness.
We also investigated whether the social capital (people's social assistant networks) affected the consequences of drought on the three consequences of mental health: depression, anxiety and stress.
Based on a survey of 507 farmers, we found that the long -term drought was firmly connected to the increasing level of depression, anxiety and stress.
However, our research also offers hope: Personal social capital has reduced the severity of those mental health.
Ours Results Offer necessary insights for policy makers, especially within the context of climate change, which is accelerating drought conditions within the region. This study is included in Ghana and the broader West African region – through which formal psychological tools needs to be formally reviewed the consequences of the mental health of drought on the farmers.
An necessary conversation about that is how the danger is removed within the period of climate change. Our study shows that climate planning is incomplete without integrating psychological fitness.
Weakness
Droughts are a slow -start disaster. Their effects are slowly accrued. But their effects on livelihood and psychological flexibility are deep.
In northern Ghana, where rain -fired agriculture is dominated, even short delays in rainfall could cause food insecurity, livestock losses and economic instability.
In the district district, where we studied, Average The rain is around 950 mm. But that is poor division and rapidly flawed. It is landed on this land, gravel soil through which moisture is low. Environmental conditions, because of lack of irrigation infrastructure, put farmers susceptible to climate shock.
Wee Wee, we collectively chosen 507 farmers in two communities – AwareDone and Yameriga. These communities connect the cultivation of crops with livestock. Farmers mainly cultivated millet, rice, maize, cocoa and soybeans. Livestocks, sheep and goats were cattle. We conducted our survey between September 2022 and March 2023. We used a mixture of accurate psychological scales and made interviews in local languages to evaluate the consequences of drought on mental health results. After that we used structural equation modeling to model our results.
Our results were amazing.
The level of stress
Our statistical modeling showed a very important link between the severity of the consequences of drought and depression, anxiety and stress. Farmers facing longer or more severe drought were more more likely to report psychological problems.
Many farmers talked about their despair after they see their crops wrecking, or their animals die. He also talked concerning the weight of home -based food or not providing income.
Farmers reported symptoms comparable to insomnia, irritability, constant anxiety, and even suicide ideas.
As a farmer we interviewed:
When the rain fails, these usually are not just crops that die. Sometimes, our souls also die. But when a neighbor distributes food or simply hears, it returns life.
Not all farmers were equally affected. Individuals with strong social support networks – including relations with family, friends, neighbors and community groups – report higher mental health results, even after they experienced drought conditions.
This is the place where the concept of non-public social capital comes. This means resources – emotional, informative, or content – individuals who can access through their social relations. In the agricultural and Perry Urban Ghana, this will likely mean food from a neighbor, emotional support of relatives, or getting shared wages within the farming season.
We found that the social capital worked as a buffer. It moderated the connection between drought and mental health. In other words, farmers with strong social relationships were higher equipped to address the psychological effects of drought.
Why does it make a difference
We conclude from our conclusions that by connecting social capital to other forms of capital – human, physical, financial and natural. In addition to this, sustainable diversity programs might be reduced in addition to the fundamental issues that put people susceptible to drought mental health effects.
This indicates a heavy need for disaster response and mental health within the climate planning plan. As climate change intensifies, drought is anticipated to extend Repeated and severe In the northern areas of Ghana.
We argue that intervention shouldn’t only concentrate on promoting agricultural productivity or providing technical training. Instead, a more integrated approach is required – something that connects climate adaptation with mental health and mobilizing the community. It is very relevant to the region, where health services are promoted and mental health is usually a taboo topic.
Therefore, increasing social capital – can improve psychological flexibility – savings groups, farmers, or through the standard bilateral network. In practical terms, this will likely mean strengthening farmer -based organizations, promoting comprehensive governance, and incorporating mental health education into climate adaptation services.
Donors and NGOs may play a task in supporting psychological auxiliary programs which can be culturally sensitive and locally ground.
If without anything, the psychological burden of drought can spoil the social fabric of the farming communities, reduce productivity, and get caught up within the cycle of poverty and suffering. But if we recognize the worth of the social support system – and spend money on them – we will create more flexible, healthy communities.