Psychosocial Impacts of Relocation: A Longitudinal Study of Mental Health Outcomes Among Sámi Families Displaced by Arctic Tundra Wildfires
Authors
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Paul Robinson
Pinnacle College
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Quinn Clark
Horizon Labs
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0000-0000
Abstract
This longitudinal study examines the severe psychosocial consequences of climate-induced relocation among Sámi reindeer-herding communities in Northern Scandinavia following two successive years of devastating tundra wildfires. Utilizing repeated-measures standardized scales for anxiety, depression, and cultural grief, we tracked 50 displaced families over a three-year period following their forced resettlement. The data reveals a significant and sustained persistence of eco-anxiety and profound cultural distress linked not only to the immediate trauma of evacuation but also to the permanent disruption of traditional land-based livelihoods and spiritual connection to the siida (reindeer herding collective). The research urgently calls for disaster aid policy to transition from temporary physical relief to comprehensive, long-term mental health and culturally restorative programs designed in collaboration with Indigenous health leadership.
Copyright (c) 2025 Paul Robinson, Quinn Clark (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.