Water, worry, and Doña Paloma: Why water security is fundamental to global mental health

FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, dealing with water shortages is a daily struggle with a high human toll. In rural settings, where people are vulnerable to drought and often lack adequate water infrastructure, water scarcity poses an enormous threat to agricultural livelihoods. Even in urban settings, where it is often assumed that people have good access to water infrastructure, the scarcity and commodification of water means many people don’t have enough to cook or wash with, or even to drink. Water shortages undermine not only the physical health of community members-putting them at risk of dehydration, hunger, and waterborne disease-but also damages mental health.