Drought is a common hardship in northern Ghana, where rainfall is irregular and agriculture forms the backbone of rural economies. While the economic and environmental impacts of drought are well documented, the psychological effects on farmers and their families have received far less attention.
Linking Mental Health and Drought
A team of researchers published a study last year in ScienceDirect, focusing on the Talensi area in Ghana’s Upper East Region. The study examined how drought affects the mental health of farmers in semi-urban areas and explored whether social capital influences the relationship between drought and three mental health outcomes: depression, anxiety, and stress.
Study Details: Survey of 507 Farmers
الأكثر قراءة
Based on a survey of 507 farmers, the researchers found that prolonged drought periods were closely associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The findings provide crucial insights for policymakers, especially in the context of climate change, which exacerbates drought conditions in the region. This study is among the first in Ghana to highlight the mental health consequences of drought using validated psychological assessment tools.
Drought’s Impact on Livelihoods
Drought is a slow-onset disaster, with cumulative effects that gradually intensify. Its impact on livelihoods and psychological resilience is profound. In northern Ghana, where rain-fed agriculture dominates, even short delays in rainfall can trigger food insecurity, livestock losses, and economic instability.
In the Talensi area, average annual rainfall is approximately 950 mm, yet its distribution is uneven and increasingly unpredictable. The soil is shallow and stony, with limited moisture retention capacity. These environmental conditions, combined with inadequate irrigation infrastructure, leave farmers highly vulnerable to climate shocks.
The study selected 507 farmers from communities practicing both crop farming and livestock rearing. The primary crops included millet, rice, maize, cowpeas, and soybeans, while livestock consisted of cattle, sheep, and goats. Researchers used a combination of validated psychological scales and structured interviews in local languages to assess drought’s impact on mental health, according to The Conversation.
Stress Levels and Drought Severity
Statistical models revealed a strong correlation between drought severity and elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Farmers who experienced longer or more intense drought periods were more likely to report psychological distress.
Many farmers spoke of the despair they felt watching their crops wither or their animals die. They described the burden of being unable to provide food or income for their families, reporting symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, persistent worry, and even suicidal thoughts.
One farmer explained:
"When the rains fail, not only do the crops die, but our spirits die too. But when a neighbor shares food with us—or even just listens, it brings us back to life."
