Abstract
Across the globe, air and water pollution, deforestation, and climate change converge into a multifaceted crisis, casting a looming shadow over the ecosystems that sustain life. Central to the exploration is the acknowledgment that environmental degradation is not confined to the physical landscape alone. It penetrates the intricate fabric of human psychology, contributing to a decline in mental resilience. The once-clear boundaries between the external world and internal mental states blur as pollutants infiltrate not only the air and water but also the cognitive and emotional realms of individuals. As the world confronts an era marked by ecological upheaval, understanding the mechanisms by which environmental stressors influence mental health becomes imperative. This chapter thus undertakes task of unraveling the intricate interplay between elevated environmental challenges and mental resilience, shedding light on the ways how few communities through their unique socio-cultural based coping methods shapes fosters mental resilience psyche amidst of an imperiled environment.