Famara Kanyi

Story: This story was filmed extensively in the North Bank Region of The Gambia, an area that is emblematic of the profound impacts of climate change on local communities. In approaching this story, I sought to capture the issue from a deeply personal and human perspective, aiming to move beyond statistics and environmental data to the lived experiences of individual farmers. My focus centered on exploring how climate change is not only an environmental challenge but also a source of psychological distress—specifically, examining the phenomenon of eco-anxiety and its effects on farmers’ mental health and overall well-being. Eco-anxiety, a term increasingly recognized in global discourse, describes the chronic fear, stress, and helplessness experienced by individuals who feel overwhelmed by the scale and severity of climate change and its impacts. In the context of the North Bank farmers, this manifests as a silent suffering—an emotional burden carried quietly due to cultural stigmas, lack of awareness, or the absence of targeted mental health support. Many farmers have witnessed their crops fail, their livelihoods become uncertain, and their communities face increasing hardship—all of which contribute to an escalating sense of fear and despair. Throughout my investigation, I discovered that despite the growing prevalence of eco-anxiety, there is currently no known government-funded or international aid programs in The Gambia that directly address or provide mental health support tailored to climate-induced stressors faced by smallholder farmers. This gap underscores an urgent need for awareness and intervention. In my storytelling, I focus on individuals like Modou Krubally, a smallholder farmer who exemplifies the resilience and struggles of many in the region. Through his personal narrative, I explore how farmers are coping with the psychological toll of climate unpredictability—whether through community support, resilience strategies, or silent suffering. Modou’s story helps to illustrate the complex relationship between mental health and climate change, emphasizing that these are intertwined issues that require urgent attention. By documenting these experiences, my intention is to shed light on a largely neglected aspect of climate change—its mental health dimension—and to evoke empathy and understanding among viewers. The story aims to humanize the abstract concept of climate change, showing how it penetrates deeply into individuals’ emotional lives, and to advocate for more comprehensive support systems that address both environmental and psychological needs.

Published in: October 13, 2025