The story of Marcos, an Indigenous Nahua man from Mexico, sheds light on the invisible traumas and mental health impacts experienced by environmental activists who defend their lands and communities. Marcos wears a panic button around his neck, a constant reminder of the death threats that forced him to flee his hometown after his son was killed for opposing the activities of the Peña Colorada iron mine in the Sierra de Manantlán.
The region has a long history of violence against defenders of the land, with more than 13 activists — mostly Indigenous — murdered since 1986. The Global Witness report highlights the dangers faced by environmental activists in Latin America, where two-thirds of the activists killed last year were Indigenous. Despite the focus on physical safety, little attention has been paid to the mental health impacts of defending the environment.
Environmental activists in Latin America live under constant threat, leading to insomnia, anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, depression, isolation, and suicidal thoughts. Mary Menton, an assistant professor, works with environmental leaders in Brazil and has noted the severe mental health impact of their work. Studies have shown that many human rights and land defenders suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, demotivation, family conflicts, and substance abuse.
While some governments have implemented protection mechanisms for physical safety, mental health support is often lacking. In countries like Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Honduras, where attacks against defenders are common, there is little to no mental health support within government programs. Private or nonprofit organizations try to fill this gap but often lack the resources to provide adequate care.
The mental health toll on environmental activists in Latin America is significant, as they face ongoing threats and violence in their fight to protect the environment. Marcos’ story serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and traumas faced by those who defend their lands and communities against powerful industries. Environmental and human rights activists face numerous challenges and threats in their work to protect the planet and their communities. From financial barriers to lack of trust in traditional mental health services, these leaders often struggle to prioritize their own well-being. However, a network of safe houses and shelters throughout Latin America is providing a lifeline for those facing mental health challenges due to their activism.
Psychologists, social workers, and lawyers have come together to create a support network that offers therapy, workshops, and a safe space for activists to address individual and collective trauma. These shelters, which are often located in remote areas, provide a crucial resource for those who are fighting to protect their lands and communities.
One such activist, Marcos, has dedicated his life to defending the Sierra de Manantlán, the ancestral lands of the Nahua community in western Mexico. After his younger brother was killed during a protest, Marcos continued the fight against logging companies and the Consorcio Minero Benito Juárez-Peña Colorada iron mine, which had devastated the region.
Despite facing threats, intimidation, and judicial persecution, Marcos remains committed to his cause. He has been detained multiple times and beaten by police, but continues to advocate for the protection of the Sierra de Manantlán and the rights of Indigenous communities.
The work of activists like Marcos highlights the ongoing struggle for environmental justice and the need for greater support for those on the frontlines of this fight. By prioritizing mental health and creating safe spaces for activists to heal and connect, we can build a stronger, more resilient movement for environmental protection and social justice.
The house serves as a sanctuary for those who have been targeted for their environmental and social activism. It is a place where they can find solace, support, and safety amidst the constant threats and violence they face. The atmosphere inside is one of resilience, solidarity, and hope, despite the climate of horror that surrounds them.
The residents of this house have dedicated their lives to defending their land, their communities, and their rights. They have spoken out against powerful interests that seek to exploit and destroy the environment for profit. In doing so, they have become targets of violence and persecution. But they refuse to be silenced. They continue to fight for justice, for their people, and for the land that sustains them.
Living under this constant threat creates what has been called atmospheres of violence or climates of horror. It is a slow violence that often goes unnoticed, overshadowed by more immediate and sensational forms of violence. But for those who experience it, the impact is profound and lasting.
Despite the dangers they face, the residents of this house remain steadfast in their commitment to their cause. They draw strength from each other, from their shared struggle, and from the support of organizations like Tskini. They know that they are not alone, that there are others who stand with them, who will fight alongside them, and who will not rest until justice is served.
In a world where power and profit often take precedence over people and the planet, these activists are beacons of hope. They remind us that there is still good in the world, that there are still people willing to stand up for what is right, no matter the cost. And they inspire us to do the same, to speak out, to take action, and to fight for a better future for all.
The house in Bogotá may be unremarkable from the outside, but inside, it is a place of courage, determination, and resilience. It is a refuge for those who refuse to be silenced, who refuse to give in to fear, and who refuse to let the forces of violence and oppression win. It is a symbol of hope in a world that often feels dark and hopeless. And it is a reminder that, even in the face of unimaginable challenges, there is always the possibility of change, of justice, and of a brighter tomorrow.
A faded declaration of human rights hangs on the wall leading to a huge hall in the back. The wall is adorned with a mural painted by human rights and environmental activists and their children in the Corporación Claretiana safe house south of Bogotá. The mural depicts scenes of resilience, strength, and unity in the face of adversity.
Inside the safe house, residents usually stay for up to three months. They sleep in bunk beds, cook, clean, and spend their hours resting, reading, and talking to each other and therapists. The residents also have access to therapeutic spaces, such as a sewing room, where they work through their traumas using their hands. Some days are more challenging than others, with residents experiencing panic attacks and psychological crises. In these moments, psychologists rush to the house to provide support and guidance.
Jaime Absalón León Sepúlveda, the founder and director of the Corporación Claretiana Norman Pérez Bello, explains that the safe house was initially established to provide a sanctuary for human rights defenders at risk of harm. Over the years, the focus shifted to providing therapeutic spaces for residents to address their trauma collectively and individually.
The therapy provided at the safe house is rooted in liberation psychology or psychosocial therapy, a therapeutic approach that emerged during the civil wars in Central America. This method emphasizes conversations and artistic activities, such as theater, painting, and writing, to help patients contextualize their suffering within a political framework. The approach has been widely adopted in Latin America, particularly among victims of armed conflict, torture survivors, and relatives of the disappeared.
In 2013, Colombian psychologist Correa founded Aluna, an organization in Mexico that specializes in providing psychosocial therapy to human rights activists and land defenders. Correa was forced to leave Colombia after uncovering a military intervention known as “Operation Genesis,” which exposed collusion between paramilitaries and the Colombian army to exploit fertile lands and forests in the Colombian Caribbean.
The work being done at the Corporación Claretiana safe house and organizations like Aluna is crucial in supporting the mental health and well-being of individuals who have dedicated their lives to advocating for human rights and environmental protection. These spaces offer a sanctuary for healing, resilience, and solidarity in the face of ongoing challenges and threats. The horrors faced by communities in Colombia and Mexico are unimaginable to most people. The displacement, violence, and terror inflicted upon innocent civilians by paramilitaries and the military have left scars that run deep. These wounds cannot be healed by traditional psychology alone, as they are rooted in political and social contexts that must be understood and addressed.
In Colombia, communities like Turbo were torn apart by violence and forced displacement. The atrocities committed by paramilitaries and the military were linked to logging interests in the fertile lands of the Urabá region. Environmental activist Correa and her colleagues bravely spoke out about these crimes, despite facing threats and eventually being forced into exile.
Upon arriving in Mexico, Correa discovered a similar pattern of violence and repression. The government’s “dirty war” targeted government opponents, leftist leaders, students, and Indigenous people. Victims lived in fear, guilt, and paranoia, struggling to cope with the trauma inflicted upon them.
In response to these atrocities, Correa’s organization, Aluna, adopted an approach to victim support inspired by Ignacio MartÃn-Baró’s liberation psychology. This approach emphasizes understanding the political and social context of the violence, providing psychosocial support to victims, and empowering them to reclaim their agency as political actors. Healing is seen as a political act of freedom, allowing individuals and communities to rebuild themselves and envision a brighter future.
MartÃn-Baró’s legacy lives on in Latin America, where his ideas have sparked a movement of liberation psychology. The International Congress of Liberation Psychology brought together professionals from across the region to share knowledge and techniques for supporting victims of political violence. Correa herself has contributed to this movement, using her expertise to help victims of sexual torture find healing and empowerment.
The work of activists like Correa and organizations like Aluna is vital in addressing the deep wounds inflicted by political violence. By acknowledging the root causes of trauma, providing support to victims, and empowering communities to reclaim their agency, we can begin to heal the wounds of the past and build a more just and peaceful future.
The safe house in Colombia has become a beacon of hope for many individuals and groups facing various forms of violence and oppression. Starting with victims of the internal conflict in Colombia, the safe house has evolved to shelter LGBTQ+ rights activists, youth advocates, victims of state violence, and environmental defenders. This transformation reflects the diverse and pressing needs of those seeking refuge and support in a country marred by conflict and inequality.
Ajax Sanhueza, the director of Colectivo Casa, highlights the importance of psychosocial counseling in addressing the trauma and challenges faced by marginalized communities. Working with Indigenous leaders in Bolivia, the organization has utilized creative methods such as handmade doll videos to raise awareness about the threats to Indigenous territories and women’s rights. By empowering individuals to tell their stories and advocate for their rights, psychosocial counseling becomes a tool for healing and resistance.
In Latin America, the use of political and community-based approaches to psychology faces challenges due to academic and institutional biases. However, organizations like Casa La Serena in Mexico City and Not1More in Brazil are working to create safe spaces for healing and empowerment. By integrating psychosocial principles into their programs, these organizations aim to provide holistic support to individuals experiencing trauma and violence.
Jaime Absalón León Sepúlveda, the founder of the safe house in Bogotá, emphasizes the importance of community and creativity in the healing process. Through activities like sewing workshops and storytelling sessions, residents are able to connect with one another and find catharsis in shared experiences. The safe house serves as a place of refuge and renewal for those seeking to mend their past and build a hopeful future.
As the need for mental health support for environmental defenders continues to grow, organizations are working to expand their services and reach more individuals in need. By creating safe havens in rural areas and providing training in psychosocial principles, these organizations are building a network of support for at-risk leaders throughout the region. Despite the challenges and risks involved in defending their communities and territories, individuals like León Sepúlveda find solace in music, nature, and creative expression.
The house nestled in the countryside south of Bogotá stood strong and proud, just like its inhabitants. It was a place filled with history and memories, a sanctuary for those who called it home. And just like the house, its owner could not imagine abandoning his mission.
For years, he had dedicated his life to preserving the land and the traditions that came with it. He tended to the crops, cared for the animals, and ensured that everything ran smoothly on the estate. It was a labor of love, a duty passed down through generations, and he took great pride in upholding the legacy.
But as the world around him continued to change, the pressure to modernize and adapt grew stronger. Many of his peers had sold their land, moved to the city, and left their rural way of life behind. But not him. Like the house’s inhabitants, he remained steadfast in his commitment to the land and the heritage it held.
He knew that his mission was not just about maintaining a piece of land, but about preserving a way of life. The traditions, the values, the connection to the earth – all of it was worth fighting for. And so, he continued to toil in the fields, to nurture the soil, and to pass on his knowledge to the next generation.
As the sun set over the rolling hills of Bogotá, the house’s owner stood on the porch, looking out at the land that had been his family’s for generations. And in that moment, he knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, he would never abandon his mission. For like the house’s inhabitants, he was rooted in the land, bound by a deep sense of duty and love for the place he called home. As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, the world is witnessing a transformation in almost every aspect of our lives. From the way we communicate to how we work and even how we entertain ourselves, technology has become an integral part of our daily existence.
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