O-45 Mental health and adaptation to chronic sargassum exposure in the French Overseas Territories in the Americas
Author(s):
R Banydeen, J Florentin, R Neviere, D Resiere
Year of Presentation:
2026
Objective: To examine chronic sargassum exposure
through a population and social science lens by documenting community knowledge, risk perception, lived physical
and mental health impacts, and adaptation strategies, and
to assess how these insights can inform public health prevention, mental health integration, risk communication, and
policy design in the Caribbean.
Methods: A qualitative socio-anthropological study (SARGACARE project) was conducted between September and November 2023 among 60 residents and workers living in coastal areas of Martinique with varying levels of sargassum exposure. Individual interviews and focus groups were carried out using a standardized interview guide. Thematic content analysis explored knowledge gaps, perceptions of environmental and health risks, physical and mental health impacts, adaptation strategies, and the influence of social and territorial inequalities.
Results: Sargassum strandings were widely perceived as a chronic environmental health threat rather than an episodic event. Knowledge regarding sargassum origin and toxicity was heterogeneous and largely shaped by lived experience, revealing persistent knowledge gaps. Participants consistently reported cumulative health impacts, including respiratory symptoms, headaches, sleep disturbances, and psychological stress. Mental health effects—such as anxiety related to odors and gas emissions, emotional distress, uncertainty, and anticipatory stress during recurrent sargassum seasons—were prominent and closely intertwined with physical symptoms. Adaptation strategies ranged from behavioral and housing adjustments to reliance on informal support networks, while social and territorial inequalities strongly influenced vulnerability and capacity to adapt.
Conclusion: Community knowledge and perceptions, including lived mental health experiences, constitute a critical yet underused resource for addressing chronic environmental health threats such as sargassum strandings. Integrating social science evidence into public health responses represents an innovation in health by improving risk communication, prevention strategies, mental health integration, and equitable policy design. This approach supports more resilient and community-centered Caribbean health systems facing climate-driven environmental change.