The beauty of a clear coastline is a source of joy, a cornerstone for economies, and a powerful balm for the soul. But when that water turns thick, green, and toxic with a harmful algal bloom, the damage is more than aesthetic.
Beyond the visible discoloration of the water and the immediate economic losses, the ongoing presence of the bloom challenges our sense of safety, connection to place, and emotional equilibrium, creating a psychological impact that affects daily life.
Regardless of the environmental or political causes, the consequences extend far beyond the water’s edge, often invisible and multifaceted.
Loss of restorative space and routine
For many South Australians, the coastline, from the beaches of the Fleurieu Peninsula to the shores of Gulf St Vincent, is a primary source of restoration and resilience. It’s the setting for essential daily routines: the morning walk, the after-work swim, family gatherings, or simply finding peace watching the sea.
While beaches technically remain open, public health warnings advise people to avoid swimming in or entering discoloured or foamy water. For dedicated beachgoers, this removes a central, reliable coping mechanism. The regular surf or ocean dip that once provided a sense of calm now involves uncertainty and generates anxiety.
The once-familiar landscape becomes a source of stress rather than comfort, especially when signs of ecological damage are visible – such as dead marine life and foamy, discoloured water.
The weight of ecological grief and solastalgia
Counselling recognises specific forms of grief tied to environmental change.
Ecological grief
Ecological grief is the emotional response to losing places, species, ecosystems, and meaningful landscapes that are important to us.
Take a moment to think about a place that you love — perhaps a place you’ve known your entire life — is suddenly unsafe and inaccessible. It’s easy to imagine the emotional toll if you were to lose it. This genuine sorrow over the visible destruction of a natural ecosystem is a lived experience for a growing number of South Australians.
Whether facing actual devastation or just the anticipation of it, individuals suffer the emotional consequences by struggling with feelings of helplessness, despair, grief, and uncertainty.
Solastalgia
This term describes the distress, anxiety, and sense of powerlessness experienced when your immediate environment is negatively transformed.
An Australian environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht (2005) best described it as “feeling homesick even though you are still at home.” Albrecht coined the term in response to the distress felt by residents of the Hunter Valley in response to open-cut coal mining and drought.
Anxiety and the threat to identity
For those whose livelihoods or sense of identity are tied to the water, such as fishers, tourism operators, and coastal residents, the algal bloom represents a deep, existential threat.
The unpredictable nature of a bloom and the uncertainty over its duration or recurrence can lead to chronic anxiety. Inability to control the environmental circumstances creates a powerful feeling of helplessness, a key driver of emotional distress.
Additionally, the need to constantly worry about toxins, to check advisories before simply going for a walk, or to monitor the health of children and pets, places a heavy, sustained burden on an individual’s mental health and wellbeing.
Blue health
Ever wonder why staring at the ocean’s vast blue expanse and hearing the gentle lapping of waves is so relaxing?
While research shows that regular contact with the natural world can improve our wellbeing (a phenomenon that many of us have experienced firsthand), there are specific benefits associated with blue spaces, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans.
The ‘blue health’ theory suggests that being near or on water is good for both our physical and mental health. And it’s true: studies have shown that proximity to blue spaces restores attention and mental clarity, improves life and body satisfaction, and reduces heart rate and cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone).
It’s little wonder, then, that many people are experiencing challenges in adjusting to a lifestyle without a regular dose of blue space, especially when the timeframe is uncertain.
Finding the path to resilience
Acknowledging that your distress is a normal and rational response to an overwhelming event is the first step toward healing. Your feelings are valid and shared.
Here are four ways you can nurture emotional resilience during and after an environmental crisis:
- Allow yourself to grieve the change in your environment. Don’t suppress the anger, sadness, or anxiety. Naming these feelings (grief, solastalgia, eco-anxiety) is a powerful act of validation.
- If your usual place of calm is unavailable, consciously seek out and cultivate a new restorative space. This could be a local park, a quiet room, or simply a dedicated ten minutes of stillness each day.
- While you may not be able to clear the water, focus on what you can control. This may involve connecting with neighbours, sharing feelings, or joining local community groups to advocate for the environment. Collective action, even small steps, is a powerful antidote to individual helplessness.
- Seek professional support. If the emotional weight feels too heavy, please remember that professional counselling offers a safe space to process environmental trauma and develop healthy coping strategies. Environmental distress is a legitimate reason to seek help.
The water may eventually clear, but the emotional ripples can linger. Supporting your wellbeing, and that of your community, is essential in navigating the long-term recovery journey.
Looking for support?
Environmental distress is real, and support is available. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or grieving the changes to your local environment, speaking with a mental health professional can help.
Our counselling and therapy services offer a safe, confidential space to process these emotions and develop strategies for resilience and healing. Request an appointment here.
About the author
Cayetana Arranz,
Counsellor
Cayetana’s approach is trauma-informed, person-centred, and non-judgemental. Incorporating elements of compassion, openness & flexibility into evidence-based approaches to ensure depth and diversity in her practice. She believes in establishing safe, open, and trusting relationships with clients that foster personal growth. Through this collaborative approach, Cayetana aims to empower individuals to navigate personal challenges, explore new perspectives and develop new ways to live healthier lives.