UPEI graduate student conducting survey about mental health impacts of coastal erosion

Lucy Li, a Master of Environmental Sciences student at UPEI and a member of the UPEI Climate Smart Lab, is seeking participants for a survey study about the mental health impacts of coastal erosion.

Li is asking Islanders to complete an online survey at https://forms.gle/38nLPjQ5SyyWEQpf8; the survey is anonymous and takes abut 10–15 minutes to complete. Anyone 18 years or older, residing in PEI, and having been impacted by coastal erosion through property damage, livelihood disruption, or displacement may participate. It will be available until September 30.

“Coastal erosion is a slow-onset environmental hazard that poses serious threats not only to infrastructure and ecosystems but also to human well-being,” said Li. “While the physical and economic impacts of coastal hazards are well documented, the mental health consequences, particularly those tied to gradual changes such as land loss and forced relocation, remain significantly underexplored.”

By identifying common mental health challenges and resilience strategies, she said, her project aims to inform adaptation policies and mental health services that are better aligned with the needs of at-risk coastal communities. The findings will contribute to interdisciplinary climate change discourse and prioritize psychological resilience in coastal adaptation strategies.

For more information about the study, please contact Li at lli6706@upei.ca.