Toxic algal bloom has taken a heavy toll on mental health

(Press-News.org) The year-long algal bloom along the South Australian coastline has not only devastated marine life and triggered health risks for humans and pets: it has also had a significant psychological impact on local residents, according to new research.

An Adelaide University survey of more than 600 South Australians during the peak of the 2025 bloom found high levels of ‘eco-anxiety’ – distress linked to environmental damage – with many participants reporting persistent worry, sadness and feelings of helplessness.

The findings have recently been published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Lead researcher Dr Brianna Le Busque, Program Director of Environmental Science and Geospatial Science at Adelaide University, said the findings show marine environmental crises can have profound effects on community wellbeing.

“More than 60% of the people we surveyed said they were repeatedly thinking about the bloom or felt that their personal actions wouldn’t make a difference,” Dr Le Busque said.

“Over half reported feeling anxious or afraid, and one in five said it was affecting their sleep or ability to concentrate. This tells us that the impacts of environmental crises extend well beyond the visible damage to ecosystems.”

The survey captured responses from 613 residents while the bloom was actively unfolding. In the two weeks prior to completing the survey:

69% experienced “frequent rumination”, meaning they couldn’t stop thinking about the bloom 63% felt anxiety about personal impacts or helplessness 54% reported emotional symptoms such as fear or distress 20% experienced behavioural disruptions, including sleep difficulties. Women reported significantly higher levels of eco-anxiety than men, and people who visited the ocean more often were also more likely to report distress.

Importantly, the bloom disrupted people’s connection to the ocean – a place that many rely on for relaxation and mental wellbeing. Nearly half of those who said they were directly impacted reported stopping recreational activities such as swimming, surfing, walking or fishing.

“For many South Australians, the beach is a place of solace and restoration,” Dr Le Busque said. “When that space becomes associated with dead marine life, foam and health warnings, it changes how people feel about going there.”

Just under 40% of directly affected participants said their mental health had suffered, describing feelings of grief, frustration and depression. Some compared seeing washed-up marine life to “the death of a loved one.” A third said their distress was specifically linked to witnessing dead animals along the shoreline.

The study also identified physical health concerns, with 24% reporting issues such as coughing or respiratory irritation after visiting affected beaches.

Dr Le Busque said the research highlights the need to recognise eco-anxiety as a legitimate public health concern – particularly as climate-driven marine events, including heatwaves and algal blooms, become more frequent.

“We often think about the economic and environmental costs of events like harmful algal blooms,” she said. “But we also need to consider the human cost. These events can disrupt people’s daily routines, their sense of place, and their relationship with nature.”

The researchers say understanding these psychological impacts is crucial for building community resilience and ensuring mental health support is part of future environmental response planning.

“This bloom has shown that when the ocean suffers, communities suffer too,” Dr Le Busque said.

END