Powering well-being: Energy independence and mental health in a zone of ongoing disasters

Abstract

The archipelago of Puerto Rico has faced multiple natural disasters, including hurricanes and earthquakes, disrupting the mental health and daily lives of its residents. These disasters, combined with socio-political abandonment, have led to the deterioration of the electrical grid, exacerbating health disparities. This study aimed to explore the linkages between natural and structural disasters, mental health, and energy independence in Puerto Rico. In this setting, the community organization Casa Pueblo has installed solar panels in the homes of people with chronic health conditions. Through ethnographic fieldwork in the town of Adjuntas and qualitative interviews with 45 individuals with different levels of access to solar power, we explore the implications of ongoing natural and structural disasters on the mental health of individuals and how access to solar energy could help mitigate their effects. Results indicate that participants with direct and indirect access to solar panels held positive and hopeful narratives regarding their mental well-being and quality of life. This innovative model of communal energy security through solar power for climate adaptation holds promises for enhancing mental health in the town of Adjuntas and potentially in other regions.