Abstract:
Large-scale mining is expanding across Alaska, particularly in regions where nearby communities maintain deep relationships with the land. While existing research emphasizes physical health risks—such as exposure to mine dust and contamination of air and water—far less is known about the mental health consequences for individuals residing in surrounding communities.
This study employed a qualitative thematic analysis to examine the lived experiences of 19 individuals residing near operating large-scale mines in Alaska’s Interior region. Semi-structured qualitative interviews reflected four themes that provided valuable insight on the relationship between large-scale mining and the mental health of individuals residing in nearby communities: changes to the environment, distrust in mining industries and political systems, economic and infrastructure tradeoffs, and identified mental health impacts. These results highlight the need for mental health considerations in the permitting of mining projects and in land management policies in Alaska and in future research.