This week it was 116 degrees in California. Let that sink in for a second. California, a state, if you have ever lived in, prides itself on its amazing weather. Every media outlet is covering this story, and for good reason, a lot of people could die if we are not careful. But sadly, these stories of weather-related events are becoming all too common.
Record temperatures are just another sign of the profound climate change we are experiencing across the world. From floods, to fires, and everything in between, it’s clear that major change is happening in our world and its past time for action on climate. I have written about climate change and mental health here before, so today I want to focus specifically on heat since it’s what many of my friends and colleagues are confronting right now in California.
I don’t know a lot of people who love being in any extreme temperature. Whether too hot or too cold, climate can impact how you feel and even what you decide to do (or not do)! In fact, one survey found that the climate was a significant factor in choosing where we want to live with people preferring warm over cold. That being said, preferring warm is very different than managing extreme heat. This got me thinking more about how heat impacts our mental health.
And there’s a lot there to discuss.
Heat and mental illness: Individuals who have a diagnosed mental illness, and who may be taking medication, are at higher risk during extreme hear. Certain psychiatric medications can actually impair your ability to regulate temperature making it possible for someone to get too hot or too cold. This can lead to death if not managed carefully. Some states have even put out guidance on what to be aware of if you are on certain psychiatric medications. Extreme temperatures can also impact our health care utilization. One study found that while both extreme heat and cold lead to an increase in visits to the emergency department by individuals with an identified mental illness, extreme heat seemed to have the strongest effect. Bottom line: people who have an underlying mental illness or substance use disorder are at higher risk in extreme temperatures and we should be strategizing what to do to communicate, outreach, and help some of the most vulnerable.
Heat and mental health: Heat can impact our sleep, our social interactions, and our work. We change our behavior, like not going outside, and heat can even impact our academic performance. One study found that extreme heat led to reduced learning and lower test scores. Yet another study found that higher temperatures had an effect on suicide. Whatever it is about heat, it is clear that ignoring its impact on our mental health is a bad idea. We have a responsibility to acknowledge that our mental health will be impacted during extreme weather events and help give people the information they need to get through. We should place mental health experts in the media to discuss how to help take care of your own emotional health and what to do to help others. Let’s put mental health experts in leadership positions to help with our response and recovery. This type of planning will go a long way to assure that mental health is integrated into an overall strategy.
The aftermath: There is no doubt that we will hear stories of people dying from the heat. These deaths, however preventable they may be, impact families and communities. We will also hear stories about kids and families who become increasingly worried about the next weather-related event. Extreme heat, however different it may feel on the surface, can have some of the same effects below the surface if we do not adequately address the impact it has on our mental health.
Extreme temperatures are not going to go away. Sadly, with the current trajectory we are on, our Earth is only going to get hotter unless we can take bold and urgent action. While we have seen some policy change recently, there’s much more to do be done. And while we do this vital work, let’s also not forget about how heat can impact our mental health and our responsibility to do something about both.